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

52/100

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 County56/100
Cleburne County56/100
Pickens County56/100
Franklin County55/100
Shelby County55/100
Geneva County55/100
Washington County55/100
Cullman County55/100
Lowndes County55/100
Colbert County55/100
DeKalb County55/100
Henry County55/100
Covington County55/100
Macon County55/100
Etowah County55/100
Madison County54/100
Morgan County54/100
Dale County54/100
Marion County54/100
Pike County54/100
Randolph County54/100
Coffee County54/100
Lee County54/100
Dallas County53/100
Houston County53/100
Perry County53/100
Blount County53/100
Jefferson County53/100
Sumter County53/100
Tallapoosa County53/100
Lawrence County53/100
Jackson County53/100
Talladega County53/100
Calhoun County53/100
Monroe County53/100
Cherokee County53/100
Clarke County52/100
Fayette County52/100
Russell County52/100
Baldwin County52/100
Hale County52/100
Winston County52/100
Lamar County52/100
Walker County52/100
Marengo County52/100
Marshall County51/100
St. Clair County51/100
Greene County51/100
Chambers County51/100
Escambia County51/100
Crenshaw County51/100
Choctaw County51/100
Conecuh County51/100
Elmore County51/100
Mobile County51/100
Tuscaloosa County50/100
Chilton County50/100
Clay County50/100
Autauga County49/100
Limestone County49/100
Butler County48/100
Wilcox County48/100
Bibb County48/100
Bullock County48/100
Coosa County48/100
Montgomery County47/100
Barbour County43/100

— = 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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