schoolsbycounty

Russell County Schools & Education

School Score

39/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

91.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.7%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,157

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,270

School Score

39/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#38

of 67 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Russell County

Measured School Summary

Despite a lower school score of 39/100, Russell County maintains a strong graduation rate of 91.4%, suggesting effective student support systems.

Funding Context

At $6,157 per pupil, Russell County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 2% below the Alabama average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Russell 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

18 public schools and 2 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

39/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #38 of 67 Alabama counties with school score data.

Completion

91.4%

0.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,157

$113 below the state average

School coverage

18

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Russell County has 18 public schools across 2 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.

Parent decision brief

What Russell 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.

Dominant-district county

Phenix City carries most of the listed public-school system, with 12 of 18 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#38

of 67 Alabama counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.

Phenix City

Elementary to high school visible

6,190 students

Elementary 5Middle 2High 1Other 2

10 listed schools in this county slice.

Russell County

Elementary to high school visible

3,695 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 2Other 0

8 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Phenix City is the largest listed district slice, with 12 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 Russell County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Russell 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 Russell 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.

Diverse School Infrastructure in Russell County

Russell County operates 18 public schools across two primary districts, serving 9,885 total students. The landscape includes 10 elementary, three middle, and three high schools to support the growing region.

Phenix City Leads Local School Districts

Phenix City is the largest district, managing 12 schools and 7,218 students. The Russell County district oversees the remaining eight schools, and there are currently no charter schools in operation within the county.

Suburban Learning with a Rural Edge

Schools here offer a mix of 11 suburban and seven rural campuses with an average enrollment of 618 students. Central High School is the largest campus with 1,495 students, while Ridgecrest Elementary provides a smaller environment with 796 pupils.

School Overview

Total Schools

18

in Russell County

Reported Enrollment

9,885

18 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary10
Middle3
High3
Other2

18 Public Schools in Russell County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 3 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Level

Showing 18 of 18 matching schools

Central High School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36870 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,495 students

Phenix City Intermediate School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36867 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–7Middle1,044 students

Russell County High School

Russell County

Seale, 36875 / Rural: Distant

Profile9–12High1,014 students

Russell County Middle School

Russell County

Seale, 36875 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle830 students

Ridgecrest Elementary School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36869 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary796 students

Phenix City Elementary School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36867 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary715 students

Central Freshman Academy

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36870 / Suburb: Large

Record9Other532 students

Sherwood Elementary School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36867 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary521 students

South Girard School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36869 / Rural: Fringe

Record8Middle513 students

Oliver Elementary School

Russell County

Seale, 36875 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary463 students

Ladonia Elementary School

Russell County

Phenix City, 36869 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary450 students

Westview Elementary School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36867 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary421 students

Mt Olive Primary School

Russell County

Ft Mitchell, 36856 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–2Primary392 students

Mount Olive Intermediate School

Russell County

Fort Mitchell, 36856 / Suburb: Large

Record3–5Primary307 students

Dixie Elementary School

Russell County

Opelika, 36804 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary239 students

Meadowlane Elementary School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36869 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary153 students

Alternative Learning Center

Russell County

Seale, 36875 / Rural: Distant

Record5–12Alternative0 students

Success Academy

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36867 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,157

State avg $6,270

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Russell County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
How should I read the school score in Russell County?
Russell County has a school score of 39/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Russell County?
The high school graduation rate in Russell County is 91.4%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Russell County spend per student?
Russell County spends $6,157 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Russell County, Alabama — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Russell County, Alabama?

Russell County operates 18 public schools across two primary districts, serving 9,885 total students. The landscape includes 10 elementary, three middle, and three high schools to support the growing region.

What are the major school districts in Russell County, Alabama?

Phenix City is the largest district, managing 12 schools and 7,218 students. The Russell County district oversees the remaining eight schools, and there are currently no charter schools in operation within the county.

What is the school experience like in Russell County?

Schools here offer a mix of 11 suburban and seven rural campuses with an average enrollment of 618 students. Central High School is the largest campus with 1,495 students, while Ridgecrest Elementary provides a smaller environment with 796 pupils.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.