Challenger Middle School (Ranked Top 50% for 2026)

13555 Chaney Thompson Rd
Huntsville, AL 35803

( shown in map)

Top 50%

Challenger Middle School in Huntsville, AL ranked #406 in the state in 2023, declining from #376 in 2022 and showing a downward trend since 2015 when it ranked #138.

Math proficiency was 28% in 2023, lower than the state average of 30%, while reading proficiency was 58%, higher than the state average of 47%; science proficiency ranged between 55% and 59%, higher than the state average of 38%.

Enrollment declined from 651 students in 2005 to 428 students in 2023, while the percentage of students eligible for free lunch increased to 41% in 2023, indicating shifting socioeconomic demographics.

Challenger Middle School served grades 6–8 with an enrollment of 428 students and a student–teacher ratio of 16:1 in 2023.

Minority enrollment was 45% in 2023, with notable diversity including Black (25%), Hispanic (11%), Asian/Pacific Islander (3%), and multiracial students (6%).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 428 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 45%
: Top 50% in AL
: 28% (Top 50%)
: 58% (Top 30%)
: 55-59% (Top 20%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Challenger Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

Category

Attribute

Science Proficiency

Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)

Diversity

Most diverse schools (Top 10%)

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">School Overview

Challenger Middle School's student population of 428 students has declined by 13% over five school years.

The teacher population of 26 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 6-8
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Challenger Middle School
6	135
7	151
8	142

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Total Students

428 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School
2023	438
2022	456
2021	493
2020	501
2019	501
2018	448
2017	448
2016	469
2015	512
2014	526
2013	516
2012	536
2011	548
2010	567
2009	565
2008	541
2007	596
2006	613
2005	651
2004	645
2003	648
2002	656
2001	653
2000	656
1999	646
1998	649
1997	652
1996	672
1995	625
1994	620
1993	555

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

26 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School
2023	26
2022	25
2021	25
2020	28
2019	28
2018	28
2017	28
2016	29
2015	30
2014	29
2013	40
2012	37
2011	42
2010	44
2009	37
2008	38
2007	39
2006	39
2005	40
2004	40
2003	41
2002	38
2001	43
2000	43
1999	41
1998	41
1997	41
1996	42
1995	39
1994	37
1993	32

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School Calendar

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-rankings">School Rankings

Challenger Middle School ranks within the top 50% of all 1,275 schools in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Challenger Middle School is 0.62, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (AL)

#406 out of 1275 schools
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School
2023	#406
2022	#376
2021	#416
2019	#233
2018	#286
2017	#231
2016	#160
2015	#138
2014	#129
2013	#224
2012	#244

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28%

30%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	28%	30%	27%
2022	28%	29%	25%
2021	19%	24%	21%
2019	56%	47%	44%
2018	54%	47%	45%
2017	53%	44%	40%
2016	62%	43%	47%
2015	60%	40%	49%
2014	54%	38%	42%
2013	90%	80%	77%
2012	91%	82%	81%

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58%

47%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2022	58%	47%	48%
2021	55%	46%	46%
2019	64%	45%	46%
2018	60%	46%	45%
2017	52%	39%	35%
2016	52%	38%	37%
2015	53%	41%	47%
2014	57%	42%	46%
2013	94%	86%	86%
2012	94%	86%	86%
2011	94%	85%	83%

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55-59%

38%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2022	57%	38%	41%
2021	42%	36%	35%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

17:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	17:1	17:1	17:1
2022	18:1	18:1	17:1
2021	20:1	17:1	16:1
2020	18:1	17:1	16:1
2019	18:1	17:1	16:1
2018	16:1	18:1	16:1
2017	16:1	17:1	16:1
2016	16:1	18:1	16:1
2015	17:1	18:1	16:1
2014	18:1	16:1	17:1
2013	13:1	14:1	14:1
2012	14:1	16:1	14:1
2011	13:1	15:1	14:1
2010	13:1	16:1	14:1
2009	15:1	16:1	14:1
2008	14:1	15:1	14:1
2007	15:1	16:1	15:1
2006	16:1	15:1	14:1
2005	16:1	15:1	14:1
2004	16:1	15:1	14:1
2003	16:1	16:1	15:1
2002	17:1	16:1	15:1
2001	15:1	16:1	14:1
2000	15:1	15:1	14:1
1999	16:1	16:1	14:1
1998	16:1	16:1	15:1
1997	16:1	17:1	14:1
1996	16:1	17:1	14:1
1995	16:1	17:1	15:1
1994	17:1	18:1	16:1
1993	17:1	18:1	17:1

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American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	1%	1%
2022	1%	1%	2%
2014	1%	1%
2013	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%
2010	1%	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%
1996	1%	1%	1%
1995	2%	1%
1994	1%	1%
1991	1%	1%
1990	1%	1%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	2%	1%	2%
2022	4%	1%	3%
2021	3%	2%	3%
2020	5%	2%	2%
2019	5%	2%	2%
2018	5%	2%	2%
2017	5%	2%	2%
2016	6%	1%	2%
2015	3%	2%	2%
2014	4%	1%	3%
2013	6%	1%	3%
2012	5%	1%	2%
2011	6%	2%	3%
2010	6%	2%	3%
2009	8%	1%	3%
2008	8%	1%	3%
2007	7%	1%	3%
2006	6%	1%	3%
2005	6%	1%	3%
2004	8%	1%	3%
2003	6%	1%	4%
2002	7%	1%	3%
2001	6%	1%	3%
2000	6%	1%	3%
1999	5%	1%	3%
1998	5%	1%	3%
1997	5%	2%	3%
1996	6%	1%	3%
1995	6%	1%	4%
1994	8%	1%	4%
1993	9%	1%	4%

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Hispanic

11%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	11%	11%	16%
2022	12%	10%	16%
2021	9%	9%	15%
2020	9%	8%	14%
2019	9%	8%	14%
2018	8%	7%	13%
2017	8%	7%	13%
2016	9%	7%	11%
2015	5%	6%	10%
2014	3%	5%	8%
2013	3%	5%	7%
2012	4%	5%	6%
2011	3%	4%	7%
2010	3%	4%	6%
2009	2%	4%	5%
2008	2%	4%	5%
2007	2%	3%	4%
2006	3%	3%	4%
2005	2%	2%	3%
2004	2%	2%	3%
2003	2%	2%	2%
2002	1%	2%	2%
2001	2%	1%	2%
2000	2%	1%	2%
1999	2%	1%	2%
1998	1%	1%	2%
1997	1%	1%	1%
1996	2%	1%	1%

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Black

25%

32%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	26%	32%	41%
2022	24%	32%	43%
2021	21%	32%	41%
2020	15%	33%	41%
2019	15%	33%	41%
2018	18%	33%	42%
2017	18%	33%	42%
2016	18%	33%	43%
2015	17%	33%	42%
2014	21%	34%	41%
2013	18%	34%	42%
2012	14%	34%	43%
2011	14%	35%	43%
2010	14%	35%	43%
2009	13%	35%	43%
2008	12%	36%	43%
2007	10%	36%	43%
2006	8%	36%	43%
2005	9%	36%	43%
2004	6%	36%	43%
2003	6%	36%	43%
2002	5%	36%	43%
2001	4%	36%	42%
2000	4%	36%	41%
1999	5%	36%	41%
1998	8%	36%	40%
1997	5%	36%	39%
1996	4%	36%	38%
1995	3%	36%	37%
1994	4%	36%	36%
1993	3%	36%	35%

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White

55%

51%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	52%	52%	34%
2022	59%	53%	35%
2021	60%	53%	34%
2020	65%	54%	36%
2019	65%	54%	36%
2018	66%	55%	37%
2017	66%	55%	37%
2016	65%	56%	39%
2015	68%	56%	42%
2014	69%	57%	45%
2013	71%	58%	46%
2012	76%	58%	47%
2011	77%	58%	46%
2010	76%	58%	47%
2009	76%	59%	48%
2008	77%	58%	48%
2007	80%	59%	49%
2006	83%	59%	49%
2005	83%	60%	50%
2004	84%	60%	50%
2003	86%	60%	51%
2002	87%	60%	52%
2001	87%	61%	53%
2000	88%	61%	54%
1999	88%	61%	53%
1998	86%	61%	54%
1997	88%	60%	56%
1996	87%	61%	57%
1995	87%	62%	58%
1994	85%	62%	59%
1993	86%	62%	60%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	8%	3%	7%
2021	7%	3%	7%
2020	6%	2%	7%
2019	6%	2%	7%
2018	3%	2%	6%
2017	3%	2%	6%
2016	2%	2%	5%
2015	7%	2%	4%
2014	2%	2%	3%
2013	1%	1%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.62

0.63

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	0.65	0.62	0.67
2022	0.58	0.61	0.64
2021	0.59	0.61	0.67
2020	0.55	0.60	0.66
2019	0.55	0.60	0.66
2018	0.53	0.59	0.64
2017	0.53	0.59	0.64
2016	0.54	0.58	0.65
2015	0.51	0.58	0.64
2014	0.48	0.56	0.63
2013	0.47	0.55	0.62
2012	0.41	0.55	0.60
2011	0.39	0.54	0.60
2010	0.40	0.54	0.59
2009	0.40	0.53	0.59
2008	0.39	0.54	0.58
2007	0.34	0.53	0.57
2006	0.30	0.53	0.57
2005	0.30	0.51	0.56
2004	0.29	0.51	0.56
2003	0.26	0.51	0.56
2002	0.24	0.51	0.55
2001	0.23	0.50	0.55
2000	0.22	0.50	0.54
1999	0.22	0.50	0.54
1998	0.25	0.50	0.54
1997	0.22	0.52	0.54
1996	0.24	0.50	0.54
1995	0.24	0.49	0.53
1994	0.27	0.49	0.53
1993	0.26	0.49	0.52

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

41%

56%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	41%	55%	52%
2022	19%	44%	47%
2021	27%	48%	48%
2020	28%	49%	49%
2019	28%	49%	49%
2018	31%	47%	44%
2017	31%	47%	44%
2016	34%	46%	41%
2015	30%	47%	38%
2014	33%	52%	47%
2013	28%	51%	45%
2012	23%	51%	43%
2011	22%	49%	43%
2010	20%	47%	40%
2009	16%	44%	37%
2008	10%	43%	33%
2007	13%	42%	37%
2006	10%	44%	33%
2005	14%	43%	37%
2004	11%	42%	36%
2003	9%	42%	35%
2002	6%	40%	34%
2001	5%	38%	32%
2000	7%	37%	31%
1999	4%	38%	31%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Challenger Middle School	Alabama	Huntsville City School District
2023	3%	5%	3%
2021	4%	6%	3%
2020	3%	6%	3%
2019	3%	6%	3%
2018	6%	5%	1%
2017	6%	5%	1%
2016	3%	5%	1%
2015	4%	5%	1%
2014	6%	6%	4%
2013	5%	6%	4%
2012	4%	7%	5%
2011	5%	6%	4%
2010	5%	8%	6%
2009	5%	8%	6%
2008	3%	8%	5%
2007	6%	9%	6%
2006	4%	9%	5%
2005	4%	8%	6%
2004	4%	8%	6%
2003	3%	8%	6%
2002	3%	8%	6%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Huntsville City School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What is Challenger Middle School's ranking?

Challenger Middle School is ranked #406 out of 1,275 schools, which ranks it among the top 50% of public schools in Alabama.

What schools are Challenger Middle School often compared to?

Challenger Middle Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Buckhorn Middle School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

28% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 30% AL state average), while 58% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% AL state average).

How many students attend Challenger Middle School?

428 students attend Challenger Middle School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

55% of Challenger Middle School students are White, 25% of students are Black, 11% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Challenger Middle School?

Challenger Middle School has a student ration of 16:1, which is lower than the Alabama state average of 17:1.

What grades does Challenger Middle School offer ?

Challenger Middle School offers enrollment in grades 6-8 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Challenger Middle School part of?

Challenger Middle School is part of Huntsville City School District.

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