Colbert County Schools & Education
Colbert County, Alabama
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
56/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
93.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
93.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,830
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,270
School Score
56/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#9
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Colbert County
Measured School Summary
Colbert County performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.2%.
Funding Context
At $6,830 per pupil, Colbert County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 39% above the Alabama average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Colbert County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
25 public schools and 4 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
56/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #9 of 67 Alabama counties with school score data.
Completion
93.2%
2.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,830
$560 above the state average
School coverage
25
4 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Colbert County has 25 public schools across 4 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Colbert County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Mixed school landscape
Colbert County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#9
of 67 Alabama counties with school score data. The county score is 16 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Muscle Shoals City
Elementary to high school visible
2,896 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Colbert County
Elementary and high visible
2,621 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
Tuscumbia City
Elementary to high school visible
1,513 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Sheffield City
Elementary to high school visible
1,043 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Colbert County is the largest listed district slice, with 8 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Colbert County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Colbert County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Colbert County, Alabama
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Robust Tri-City Education Network
Colbert County supports 8,073 students across a diverse network of 25 public schools. The infrastructure includes 13 elementary, three middle, and eight high schools spread across four distinct districts. This layout ensures students have access to specialized environments from early childhood through graduation.
Strong Competition Between Leading Districts
Muscle Shoals City and Colbert County are the two largest districts, serving 2,896 and 2,621 students respectively. There are currently zero charter schools in the county, with traditional public districts like Tuscumbia City providing the bulk of the education. Muscle Shoals High School stands as the largest single campus with 853 students.
Suburban and Rural Learning Environments
Education here happens in a mix of 10 suburban, eight rural, and seven city schools, providing families with diverse lifestyle options. The average school size is a manageable 367 students, though campuses range from larger hubs like Muscle Shoals Middle to smaller local elementary schools. This variety allows for both large-school opportunities and tight-knit community feel.
School Overview
Total Schools
25
in Colbert County
Reported Enrollment
8,073
25 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Colbert County
Muscle Shoals City
Colbert County
Tuscumbia City
Sheffield City
25 Public Schools in Colbert County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 25 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Shoals High School | Record | Muscle Shoals City | Muscle Shoals, 35661City: Small | 9–12 | High | 853 |
| Muscle Shoals Middle School | Record | Muscle Shoals City | Muscle Shoals, 35661City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 648 |
| McBride Elementary School | Record | Muscle Shoals City | Muscle Shoals, 35661City: Small | 3–5 | Primary | 614 |
| Colbert Heights High School | Record | Colbert County | Tuscumbia, 35674Rural: Fringe | 7–12 | High | 484 |
| Colbert Heights Elementary School | Record | Colbert County | Tuscumbia, 35674Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 473 |
| Colbert County High School | Record | Colbert County | Leighton, 35646Rural: Fringe | 7–12 | High | 455 |
| Deshler High School | Record | Tuscumbia City | Tuscumbia, 35674Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 434 |
| G W Trenholm Primary School | Record | Tuscumbia City | Tuscumbia, 35674Suburb: Small | PK–2 | Primary | 420 |
| Leighton Elementary School | Record | Colbert County | Leighton, 35646Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 355 |
| Deshler Middle School | Record | Tuscumbia City | Tuscumbia, 35674Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 349 |
| Howell Graves Preschool | Record | Muscle Shoals City | Muscle Shoals, 35661City: Small | PK–KG | Primary | 340 |
| R E Thompson Intermediate School | Record | Tuscumbia City | Tuscumbia, 35674Suburb: Small | 3–5 | Primary | 310 |
| WA Threadgill Primary School | Record | Sheffield City | Sheffield, 35660Suburb: Small | PK–2 | Primary | 304 |
| Sheffield High School | Record | Sheffield City | Sheffield, 35660Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 278 |
| L E Willson Elementary School | Record | Sheffield City | Sheffield, 35660Suburb: Small | 3–6 | Primary | 275 |
| Hatton Elementary School | Record | Colbert County | Leighton, 35646Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 242 |
| Cherokee Elementary School | Record | Colbert County | Cherokee, 35616Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 228 |
| Cherokee High School | Record | Colbert County | Cherokee, 35616Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 221 |
| Highland Park Elementary School | Record | Muscle Shoals City | Muscle Shoals, 35661City: Small | 1–2 | Primary | 221 |
| Webster Elementary School | Record | Muscle Shoals City | Muscle Shoals, 35661City: Small | 1–2 | Primary | 220 |
Muscle Shoals High School
Muscle Shoals City
Muscle Shoals, 35661 / City: Small
Muscle Shoals Middle School
Muscle Shoals City
Muscle Shoals, 35661 / City: Small
McBride Elementary School
Muscle Shoals City
Muscle Shoals, 35661 / City: Small
Colbert Heights Elementary School
Colbert County
Tuscumbia, 35674 / Rural: Fringe
G W Trenholm Primary School
Tuscumbia City
Tuscumbia, 35674 / Suburb: Small
Leighton Elementary School
Colbert County
Leighton, 35646 / Rural: Fringe
Howell Graves Preschool
Muscle Shoals City
Muscle Shoals, 35661 / City: Small
R E Thompson Intermediate School
Tuscumbia City
Tuscumbia, 35674 / Suburb: Small
WA Threadgill Primary School
Sheffield City
Sheffield, 35660 / Suburb: Small
L E Willson Elementary School
Sheffield City
Sheffield, 35660 / Suburb: Small
Cherokee Elementary School
Colbert County
Cherokee, 35616 / Rural: Distant
Highland Park Elementary School
Muscle Shoals City
Muscle Shoals, 35661 / City: Small
Webster Elementary School
Muscle Shoals City
Muscle Shoals, 35661 / City: Small
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,830
State avg $6,270
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Colbert County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Alabama counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Alabama?
How should I read the school score in Colbert County?
What is the graduation rate in Colbert County?
How much does Colbert County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Colbert County, Alabama — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Colbert County, Alabama?
Colbert County supports 8,073 students across a diverse network of 25 public schools. The infrastructure includes 13 elementary, three middle, and eight high schools spread across four distinct districts. This layout ensures students have access to specialized environments from early childhood through graduation.
What are the major school districts in Colbert County, Alabama?
Muscle Shoals City and Colbert County are the two largest districts, serving 2,896 and 2,621 students respectively. There are currently zero charter schools in the county, with traditional public districts like Tuscumbia City providing the bulk of the education. Muscle Shoals High School stands as the largest single campus with 853 students.
What is the school experience like in Colbert County?
Education here happens in a mix of 10 suburban, eight rural, and seven city schools, providing families with diverse lifestyle options. The average school size is a manageable 367 students, though campuses range from larger hubs like Muscle Shoals Middle to smaller local elementary schools. This variety allows for both large-school opportunities and tight-knit community feel.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.