Alabama Schools & Education

Public school metrics and education data for all 67 counties.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

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

This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.

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.

State Score Context

How Alabama Counties Are Distributed

67 of 67 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.

Scored county coverage

Counties with complete enough data for the composite score

100%

Higher measured signal

Score range 70-100

Midrange measured signal

Score range 40-69

Lower measured signal

Score range 0-39

Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.

Highest Measured School Signals

Lauderdale County

62/100

School score

Cleburne County

59/100

School score

Shelby County

59/100

School score

Pickens County

58/100

School score

Franklin County

58/100

School score

Lowest Measured School Signals

#1 lowest

Barbour County

13/100

School score

#2 lowest

Montgomery County

14/100

School score

#3 lowest

Coosa County

16/100

School score

#4 lowest

Bullock County

17/100

School score

#5 lowest

Bibb County

17/100

School score

All Alabama Counties

County-level school score, graduation rate, and per-pupil spending for Alabama.
County	School Score	Graduation Rate	Per-Pupil Spending
Lauderdale County Graduation 95.4% Per pupil $6,795	62/100	95.4%	$6,795
Cleburne County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,316	59/100	97.0%	$6,316
Shelby County Graduation 95.6% Per pupil $6,510	59/100	95.6%	$6,510
Pickens County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,207	58/100	97.0%	$6,207
Franklin County Graduation 94.7% Per pupil $6,705	58/100	94.7%	$6,705
Geneva County Graduation 95.4% Per pupil $6,398	57/100	95.4%	$6,398
Cullman County Graduation 95.4% Per pupil $6,367	57/100	95.4%	$6,367
Washington County Graduation 96.0% Per pupil $6,284	57/100	96.0%	$6,284
Colbert County Graduation 93.2% Per pupil $6,830	56/100	93.2%	$6,830
DeKalb County Graduation 94.8% Per pupil $6,415	55/100	94.8%	$6,415
Henry County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $5,894	54/100	97.0%	$5,894
Covington County Graduation 93.8% Per pupil $6,597	54/100	93.8%	$6,597
Macon County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,057	54/100	92.0%	$7,057
Etowah County Graduation 94.7% Per pupil $6,317	53/100	94.7%	$6,317
Madison County Graduation 93.3% Per pupil $6,592	53/100	93.3%	$6,592
Morgan County Graduation 92.9% Per pupil $6,714	53/100	92.9%	$6,714
Dale County Graduation 94.3% Per pupil $6,315	53/100	94.3%	$6,315
Lowndes County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $8,377	52/100	87.0%	$8,377
Marion County Graduation 93.4% Per pupil $6,269	49/100	93.4%	$6,269
Coffee County Graduation 94.7% Per pupil $5,894	48/100	94.7%	$5,894
Blount County Graduation 95.4% Per pupil $5,541	48/100	95.4%	$5,541
Pike County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,600	48/100	92.0%	$6,600
Randolph County Graduation 91.1% Per pupil $6,797	46/100	91.1%	$6,797
Perry County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,400	45/100	92.0%	$6,400
Jackson County Graduation 93.3% Per pupil $5,918	45/100	93.3%	$5,918
Lawrence County Graduation 93.0% Per pupil $6,006	45/100	93.0%	$6,006
Lee County Graduation 91.9% Per pupil $6,537	45/100	91.9%	$6,537
Sumter County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,301	44/100	92.0%	$6,301
Talladega County Graduation 92.9% Per pupil $5,979	44/100	92.9%	$5,979
Houston County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $6,537	44/100	91.4%	$6,537
Dallas County Graduation 90.5% Per pupil $6,783	44/100	90.5%	$6,783
Tallapoosa County Graduation 90.5% Per pupil $6,695	43/100	90.5%	$6,695
Jefferson County Graduation 89.8% Per pupil $6,920	42/100	89.8%	$6,920
Calhoun County Graduation 91.1% Per pupil $6,319	41/100	91.1%	$6,319
Fayette County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $5,969	40/100	92.0%	$5,969
Hale County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $5,883	39/100	92.0%	$5,883
Monroe County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $6,578	39/100	90.0%	$6,578
Russell County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $6,157	39/100	91.4%	$6,157
Cherokee County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $6,542	39/100	90.0%	$6,542
Clarke County Graduation 90.5% Per pupil $6,362	39/100	90.5%	$6,362
Baldwin County Graduation 88.5% Per pupil $6,819	38/100	88.5%	$6,819
Lamar County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $5,688	38/100	92.0%	$5,688
Choctaw County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $5,312	35/100	92.0%	$5,312
Winston County Graduation 88.9% Per pupil $6,514	35/100	88.9%	$6,514
Marshall County Graduation 90.1% Per pupil $5,944	33/100	90.1%	$5,944
Marengo County Graduation 88.1% Per pupil $6,522	33/100	88.1%	$6,522
Walker County Graduation 89.8% Per pupil $6,175	33/100	89.8%	$6,175
St. Clair County Graduation 90.7% Per pupil $5,800	33/100	90.7%	$5,800
Greene County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $6,659	31/100	87.0%	$6,659
Escambia County Graduation 88.2% Per pupil $6,322	31/100	88.2%	$6,322
Chambers County Graduation 88.2% Per pupil $6,295	31/100	88.2%	$6,295
Crenshaw County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $6,575	30/100	87.0%	$6,575
Conecuh County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $6,476	30/100	87.0%	$6,476
Elmore County Graduation 88.7% Per pupil $6,019	29/100	88.7%	$6,019
Mobile County Graduation 88.4% Per pupil $6,032	28/100	88.4%	$6,032
Tuscaloosa County Graduation 86.9% Per pupil $6,265	26/100	86.9%	$6,265
Chilton County Graduation 88.0% Per pupil $5,792	25/100	88.0%	$5,792
Clay County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $5,897	23/100	87.0%	$5,897
Limestone County Graduation 88.3% Per pupil $5,406	23/100	88.3%	$5,406
Wilcox County Graduation 82.0% Per pupil $6,589	21/100	82.0%	$6,589
Autauga County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $5,707	21/100	87.0%	$5,707
Butler County Graduation 84.0% Per pupil $6,091	18/100	84.0%	$6,091
Bibb County Graduation 85.0% Per pupil $5,806	17/100	85.0%	$5,806
Bullock County Graduation 82.0% Per pupil $6,262	17/100	82.0%	$6,262
Coosa County Graduation 82.0% Per pupil $6,199	16/100	82.0%	$6,199
Montgomery County Graduation 81.8% Per pupil $6,043	14/100	81.8%	$6,043
Barbour County Graduation 85.3% Per pupil $3,173	13/100	85.3%	$3,173

— = data not available for this county.

Compare county school profiles in Alabama

Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.

Compare Counties

Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama Schools

Which Alabama counties have the highest graduation rates?

Cleburne County (97.0%), Henry County (97.0%), and Pickens County (97.0%) currently lead Alabama among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Alabama?

Across Alabama counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,270. The highest current county values are Lowndes County ($8,377), Macon County ($7,057), and Jefferson County ($6,920). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

Which Alabama county has the strongest measured school score?

Lauderdale County has the highest school score in Alabama with a score of 62/100, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data.

What is the average graduation rate in Alabama?

The average high school graduation rate across Alabama counties is 90.7%, based on NCES data.

Which county in Alabama has the lowest school score?

Barbour County has the lowest school score in Alabama with a score of 13/100. School scores reflect available graduation-rate and per-pupil spending signals.

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

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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