As of July 2023, Scholaroo ranks Alabama 46th for education in the United States. For student safety, it ranks 33rd, and for school quality, it ranks 44th. Today, let's take a look at some of the largest school districts in Alabama and how they score. The 15 largest districts in Alabama are Mobile County, Jefferson County, Baldwin County, Montgomery County, Huntsville City, Birmingham City, Shelby County, Madison County, Tuscaloosa County, Limestone County, Hoover City, Madison City, Elmore County, Tuscaloosa City, and St Clair County.
Mobile County Schools
Mobile County is the largest district in Alabama. Located in Mobile, Alabama, they serve 52,614 students from preschool to 12th grade and have a student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1. This district receives an overall grade of B-, with a mixture of A's, B's, and C's in categories like academics, teachers, clubs, sports, college preparation, administration, and facilities. But, their proficiency scores are low. Reading proficiency is at 39%, and math proficiency is at 15%. Mobile County schools are diverse, ranking fifth place for diversity in the state. The county is also ranked 29th for best districts for athletes.
Jefferson County Schools
Jefferson County is the second largest district in Alabama. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, they serve 35,819 students from preschool to 12th grade and have a student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1. The district has an overall grade of B-, with a mixture of A's, B's, and C's in the scored categories for academics, teachers, clubs, sports, college preparation, administration, and facilities. They do have low proficiencies, with reading proficiency at 32% and math proficiency at 9%. This district is in the top 10 best school districts for athletes ranking in ninth place.
Baldwin County Schools
Baldwin County is the third largest district in Alabama. Located in Bay Minette, Alabama, they serve 31,812 students from preschool to 12th grade with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1. This district has an overall grade of A-, is rated the second-best school district in the Mobile area, and 24th best district in the state. They received A's in most graded categories, except for Academics, Resources and Facilities, and Food, where they received B's. Their reading proficiency is at 57%, and math proficiency is at 33%.
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Montgomery County Schools
Montgomery County is the fourth largest district in Alabama. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, they serve 27,396 students from preschool to 12th grade. Their student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1. The county's overall grade is a C+, receiving mostly Bs and Cs in the graded categories. Sadly, the proficiencies are low at this school. Although the reading proficiency is similar to the other schools at 31%, the math proficiency is at 9%.
Huntsville City Schools
Huntsville City is the fifth-largest school district in Alabama. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, they serve 23,939 students from preschool to 12th grade and have a student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1. The district receives an overall grade of B+, scoring a mixture of As and Bs in the graded categories like academics, activities, college preparation, administration, etc. The district's reading proficiency is at 46%, and math proficiency is at 21%.
Birmingham City Schools
Birmingham City is the sixth-largest school district in Alabama. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, they serve 21,328 students from grades preschool to 12th grade and have a student-to-teacher ratio of 21:1. The district's overall grade is a C, scoring mixtures of As, Bs, and Cs in the graded categories. Their proficiencies are low at 20% for reading and 4% for math. But, they are ranked the eighth best district for athletes in the state.
Shelby County Schools
Shelby County is the seventh largest school district, serving over 21,000 students from grades preschool to 12th grade with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19:1. Located in Columbiana, Alabama, the district's overall grade is an A-, scoring As and Bs in all the graded categories. Shelby County district is ranked 27th for best school districts in Alabama, 16th for best school districts in Alabama for athletes, and 49th for best districts for teachers in the state. Their proficiencies are 58% for reading and 30% for math.
Madison County Schools
Madison County is the eighth-largest school district and is located in Huntsville, Alabama. Serving 19,873 students from preschool to 12th grade, they have a student-to-teacher ratio of 19:1. The district's overall grade is an A-, receiving As and Bs in all the graded categories. This school district is ranked fourth for best school district in the Huntsville area, 13th best school district in Alabama for athletes, and 33rd for best school districts in Alabama. Their reading proficiency is at 56%, and math proficiency is at 27%.
Tuscaloosa County Schools
Tuscaloosa County is the ninth-largest school district in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, serving 19,111 students. They have a studio-to-teacher ratio of 20:1 and have received an overall grade of B, scoring Bs in almost every grade category. They are in the top 50 and ranked 45th for best school district for athletes in the state. Their reading proficiency is at 45%, and math proficiency is at 21%.
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Limestone County Schools
Limestone County is the 10th largest school district located in Athens, Alabama. They serve 15,506 from preschool to 12th grade and have a studio-to-teacher ratio of 34:1. The district received an overall grade of B. It is also ranked in seventh place for best school districts in the Huntsville area and 45th for districts with the best teachers in the state. Their reading proficiency scores are 44% for reading and 21% for math.
Hoover City Schools
Hoover City Schools is the 11th largest school district in Alabama, located in Hoover. They serve 13,606 students and have a student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1. This district receives an overall grade of A+, scoring As in all the graded categories. They are ranked fifth for the best school districts in Alabama, first for best school districts for athletes in Alabama, and eighth for the best places to teach in the state. They have the best proficiencies we've seen so far, with 66% reading proficiency and 45% math proficiency.
Madison City Schools
Madison City Schools is another successful school district located in Madison, Alabama. Serving 12,302 students, they are the 12th largest district and have a 19:1 student-to-teacher ratio. This district received an overall grade of A+ with As in all the graded categories except for food which received a B+. They are ranked the second best school district in the state as well as sixth for the district with the best teachers and seventh for the best place to teach in the state. They have good reading and math proficiencies at 71% for reading and 51% for math.
Elmore County Schools
Elmore County Schools is located in Wetumpka, Alabama, and is the 13th largest school district in the state. They serve 11,919 students and have a student ratio of 22:1. The district receives an overall grade of B+, scoring As and Bs in all the graded categories. They are ranked first for best school district in the Montgomery area, 31st for best school district for athletes in Alabama, and 34th for best school district in the state. Their reading proficiency is 54%, and their math proficiency is 27%.
Tuscaloosa City Schools
Tuscaloosa City Schools is the 14th largest district in Alabama located in Tuscaloosa. They serve 10,964 students and have a student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. The district's overall grade is a B, and they rank 24th for best school districts in the state for athletes. Their reading proficiency is 40% in reading and 19% in math.
St Clair County Schools
St Clair County Schools is the 15th largest district in Alabama, located in Ashville. They serve 9,771 students and have a student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1. Their overall grade is a B-, scoring Bs and Cs in the graded categories. Although their reading proficiency is higher than some of the other schools at 52%, their math proficiency is still low at 21%.
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