Another Fairhope-based school has made its way onto a U.S. News and World Report ranking.

Fairhope Middle School was named the third best middle school in the state for 2024; and the top in Baldwin County. The school serves seventh- and eighth-graders and is currently at an enrollment of approximately 802 students.

The schools were ranked based on their state-required test performance scores, graduation rate and how well they prepare their students for high school.

"At Fairhope Middle School, 54% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 75% scored at or above that level for reading," the report states. "The school's minority student enrollment is 21%. The student-teacher ratio is 18:1, which is the same as that of the district."

Additionally, the report cites the school population as approximately 54% female and 46% male, and approximately 26% of those students were categorized as economically disadvantaged.

The report also states that compared to other middle schools within the school district and state, Fairhope Middle School students scored well above the expected scores.

"Compared with the district, the school did better in math and better in reading, according to this metric. In Baldwin County Public Schools, 58% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 33% tested at or above that level for math," the report states. "Fairhope Middle School did better in math and better in reading in this metric compared with students across the state. In Alabama, 44% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 20% tested at or above that level for math."

Fairhope Middle School closely followed the top two middle schools, both located in Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham. The next highest rated middle school is located in Homewood, another Birmingham suburb located over 250 miles north of Fairhope.

Six of the 10 schools ranked in the report are located in the Birmingham area.U.S. News and World Report uses data and technology to publish reporting, rankings and advice related to education, health, money, travel, cars and news topics. These reports are consumed by an audience of over 40 million people monthly.

Earlier this fall, U.S. News and World Report ranked Fairhope High School among the top 25 schools in the state, securing the No. 19 spot. Following them was Gulf Shores High School, which ranked No. 22, and Daphne High School, which ranked No. 24.