schoolsbycounty

Alabama Schools & Education

School quality and education data for all 67 counties.

Avg Graduation Rate

90.7%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$6,270

Avg School Score

40/100

Total Schools

1,516

151 districts

State Overview

About Schools in Alabama

Alabama Exceeds National Graduation Rates with Less Spending

Alabama's 90.7% graduation rate significantly outpaces the national average of 87.0%. However, the state achieves this while spending just $6,270 per pupil, which is less than half of the $13,000 national benchmark.

Broad Performance Gaps Across 67 School Districts

Education quality varies across Alabama's 67 counties, with school scores ranging from a high of 55.9 in Lauderdale to a low of 42.8 in Barbour. While some areas boast graduation rates as high as 97.0%, others like Montgomery County trail behind at 81.8%.

Efficient Results Despite Limited Educational Funding

Alabama shows a strong return on investment, maintaining an average school score of 52.3 despite low per-pupil spending. Districts like Cleburne County reach a 97.0% graduation rate with only $6,316 per student, proving that high spending isn't the only path to success.

Lauderdale, Cleburne, and Pickens Lead the State

Lauderdale County earns the top spot with a 55.9 school score and a 95.4% graduation rate. Cleburne and Pickens counties follow closely, both achieving an impressive 97.0% graduation rate while keeping per-pupil spending near the state average.

A Strong Foundation for High School Completion

Alabama is a national leader in graduation rates, though school scores show room for growth compared to the national median of 50.0. Families seeking the best educational outcomes should look toward Lauderdale or rural leaders like Cleburne County for top-tier performance.

All Alabama Counties

CountySchool Score
Lauderdale County62/100
Cleburne County59/100
Shelby County59/100
Pickens County58/100
Franklin County58/100
Geneva County57/100
Cullman County57/100
Washington County57/100
Colbert County56/100
DeKalb County55/100
Henry County54/100
Covington County54/100
Macon County54/100
Etowah County53/100
Madison County53/100
Morgan County53/100
Dale County53/100
Lowndes County52/100
Marion County49/100
Coffee County48/100
Blount County48/100
Pike County48/100
Randolph County46/100
Perry County45/100
Jackson County45/100
Lawrence County45/100
Lee County45/100
Sumter County44/100
Talladega County44/100
Houston County44/100
Dallas County44/100
Tallapoosa County43/100
Jefferson County42/100
Calhoun County41/100
Fayette County40/100
Hale County39/100
Monroe County39/100
Russell County39/100
Cherokee County39/100
Clarke County39/100
Baldwin County38/100
Lamar County38/100
Choctaw County35/100
Winston County35/100
Marshall County33/100
Marengo County33/100
Walker County33/100
St. Clair County33/100
Greene County31/100
Escambia County31/100
Chambers County31/100
Crenshaw County30/100
Conecuh County30/100
Elmore County29/100
Mobile County28/100
Tuscaloosa County26/100
Chilton County25/100
Clay County23/100
Limestone County23/100
Wilcox County21/100
Autauga County21/100
Butler County18/100
Bibb County17/100
Bullock County17/100
Coosa County16/100
Montgomery County14/100
Barbour County13/100

— = data pending from NCES pipeline.

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Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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