9 Best School Districts in Alabama

Families naturally want the best for their kids, which is one of the reasons our country provides free public education. Our children may have the right to an education. Unfortunately, challenges in the system have made some schools of higher quality than others. Knowing where to find it is key for those who prioritize where they live to access the best education for their kids.

Alabama doesn’t have the best overall reputation regarding public education quality. US News and World Report placed K-12 education in the state as no. 45 on its list, while the state was an overall no.47. The state is working hard to improve its proficiencies, as it revamped its governance system and added new laws pertaining to education. It has slowly raised its reading, math, and other proficiency scores since 2018.

An overall low score doesn’t mean all of the state’s schools and districts are of poor quality. On the contrary, you can find districts that serve as a model for the rest of the state by achieving high graduation rates, advanced class enrollment, and testing benchmarks.

The Alabama State Department of Education runs 133 school districts divided into eight regions. Counties and municipalities run school districts. In total, it serves over 700,000 students, with an average of 544 students per school.

We’ve combed independent media lists, the state report cards, and the Alabama Department of Education website to find which school districts are unfailingly making the grade. If finding a place to live in Alabama with a top-notch school system matters to you, our list of nine top performers can help you narrow down where to research further.

Mountain Brook City

Mountain Brook City’s schools are consistently high-achieving, with the district carrying an “A” grade from the state for at least five years running as of 2022. It’s also the top earning in points for the DOE’s evaluation system. All of its six schools achieved an “A” grade in 2022.

Around 4,400 students are served by the district. The system runs four K-6 elementary schools, one junior high, and one high school. Five schools carry a Blue Ribbon Award of excellence from the US Department of Education. Mountain Brook High School ranks no. 3 in the state and no. 200 in national rankings. Of the students who took an AP exam in 2022, 84% scored a three or higher. The graduating class had 95% continue on to a four-year university.

Mountain Brook, only a stone’s throw away from Birmingham, offers all the benefits of big-city life while retaining its small-town charm. Set among the lush hills and quaint suburbs of Birmingham, Mountain Brook has around 20,000 proud citizens across its 12 square miles. It is one of the wealthiest cities in Alabama to boot, based on annual household income. Mountain Brook had Alabama’s highest average home values in 2022, coming in at $937,346.

Vestavia Hills City

High-achieving Vestavia Hills is right on Mountain Brook’s heels in terms of earning top points in the state. Year after year, it scored an “A” overall grade from the ALDOE, and all nine schools earned an “A” in 2022. Niche.com listed it as the fourth-best district in the state.

Vestavia Hills City Schools enrolls around 7,000 students in eight schools. The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation ranked it a “Best Community for Music Education” for the fifth year in 2022. East Elementary was named the sixth-best elementary school in Alabama by US News and World Report for 2022. Liberty Park has a unique STEM pilot program. The high school ranked no. 4 in Alabama and offered AP courses, with 86% of exam takers scoring a 3 or higher.

In extracurriculars, it has state championships in golf, tennis, cross county, and track and field. At the high school, it’s We the People team won the state championship for the 18th year running and the national division championship in 2022. The Math Team was the state champion, and its Theater Department was “Best in Show” at a theater festival.

Perched atop the scenic Shades Mountain in Jefferson County, Alabama, Vestavia Hills is a captivating city of nearly 40,000 people near Birmingham. Nestled among the Appalachian foothills, Vestavia Hills has been incorporated since 1950. It lies conveniently along US 31, I-65, and US 280, making it easily accessible by car. Like nearby Mountain Brook, it posts one of the highest median household incomes in the state, but its real estate is more affordable. At an average home value of $522,650, it was the fourth most expensive city in Alabama.

Trussville City

While not all of its schools achieved an “A” rating, the district has earned an “A” score since 2017 and consistently ranks third in the state’s measuring system.

Trussville City Schools runs five school campuses for around 5,000 students. The high school ranked no. 16 in Alabama. About 41% of its AP test takers achieved a passing score. It had high proficiency rates in math (73%) and decent in reading (68%) and science (67%.) It is ranked no. 5 on the state’s college readiness index.

This suburban district situated fifteen miles northeast of Birmingham has been highlighted as one of the top 100 places to live in America. Full of nature preserves, parks, museums, and phenomenal shopping & dining options nearby, Trussville is a prime location for young families looking to settle. Residents benefit from a median income coming in sixth in the state. Plus, downtown Birmingham’s attractions are only a 20-minute drive away, with a lifestyle at a fraction of the cost.

Homewood City

Homewood City has earned over 90 points of 100 in the state’s scoring system since 2017. It’s also ranked second in the state on Niche.com for 2022. It was an “A” district as of 2022.

The school district serves around 4,000 students across three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. NAMM has recognized Homewood City for the 23rd year as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education.”

According to US News and World Report, Homewood High School ranks fifth in the state. In 2022, 86% met college and career readiness standards. Around 60% of its students took part in AP classes. It has a low student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1. The mathematics proficiency was higher than reading and science, but all were above 61%. Mathematics testing proficiency was 73%.

Homewood is an upscale commuter suburb of Birmingham, offering locals plenty of cafes, cozy restaurants, and chic boutiques around the quaint Soho Square and Edgewood business districts.

Additionally, Red Mountain Park is just one of its many attractions, with extensive trails for mountain biking enthusiasts as well as a zip-line course and rock climbing tower. The state’s no. 3 ranked Samford University is centered here. The picturesque Georgian colonial buildings that line the campus grounds add charm to the city. Homewood’s median resident income of $132,114 and average home values of $501,012 makes it one of the more affluent cities in the state.

Saraland City

One of the state’s newer school districts (established in 2008), Saraland achieved an “A” score in 2022, a measure it’s held since 2018. It has consistently been a top school district as it has grown.

Saraland City operates four schools: an early education PK-1 school, a grades 2-5 elementary school, a 6-8 middle school, and a 9-12 high school. Enrollment is just over 3,000 students with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1. It has a student iPad initiative, delivering technology into the hands of every student, a robotics program at the elementary school level, and dual enrollment courses for high school students that include aviation and powerplant courses.

Nestled in the heart of north Mobile County and just outside Mobile, Saraland is a city that boasts natural beauty. I-65 runs through its heart and provides easy access to downtown. From canoeing and fishing to hiking and bird-watching, plenty of outdoor activities are available thanks to its proximity to the stunningly diverse Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust.

Saraland is living its new nickname, “Gateway to Progress,” as the city is undergoing tremendous growth. You’ll see the building of multiple subdivisions and commercial/retail development when you visit. In a sign of growth, its school district has doubled in size since its inception.

Hoover City

One of the larger districts on this list, Hoover City runs 16 schools. It has earned over 90 points out of 100 in the state’s scoring system since 2017. It was an “A” district as of 2022, and it rounded out Niche.com’s top five school districts in Alabama.

Inside the district are ten elementary schools, three middle schools, an intermediate school, two high schools, and one alternative school focused on career training. Spain Park High placed eighth on the list of best high schools in Alabama for 2022. At least half of the student body took one AP exam, with 38% passing. Its math, reading, and science proficiency rates are above 72%, with a 97% graduation rate.

With a population of 87,000 and situated in the Birmingham metropolitan area, Hoover is an attractive suburb with plenty to offer its residents. From award-winning parks and green spaces to various shopping destinations, this fast-growing city has three golf courses and even more nearby. Riverchase Galleria is an impressive mixed-use development with over 150 stores. For outdoor recreation opportunities, Moss Rock Preserve provides hikers and climbers with forested trails rimmed by boulders and interesting rock formations alongside streams.

Madison City

Madison City is the 12th largest school district in Alabama, serving almost 12,500 students in two high schools, three middle schools, seven elementary schools, one pre-K center, and one alternative school. It plans to open another pre-K education center and an elementary school in the future.

The district consistently appears in the top ten performing school districts, and it is the top school district on Niche.com. Since 2017, it has earned over 90 points of 100 in the state’s grading system. It was an “A” district as of 2022. Bob Jones High School and James Clemens High School rank no. 6 and 7 in Alabama, respectively.

Madison is just outside Huntsville and is renowned for its state-of-the-art technology employers. Since the 1980s, many families have relocated to Madison due to work opportunities in the defense, aerospace, and tech industries. People are particularly drawn by the incredible quality of life it provides, including the education Madison City Schools offers. The high-quality employment opportunities help make Madison one of the ten most affluent Alabama communities based on median income.

Piedmont City

Piedmont City schools are members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, created by the US Congress to implement technology in public schools. The Piedmont City School District is proud of the one-to-one device initiative. Every student in the school district starting in kindergarten has a device ready to assist with their learning, with personal devices assigned starting in grade 4.

Piedmont City ranked no. 4 as of 2022, carrying an “A” grade like the other top performers on the list. It has been an “A” district since 2019. It runs three schools: one elementary, middle, and high. Piedmont Elementary was a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School.

Piedmont is in west central Alabama, about 32 minutes from Gadsden and 87 miles from Birmingham. Home to stunning mountain views, historic Piedmont attracts visitors and new residents alike. Dating back to the early 1840s, the city at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains has many reasons why people should live. Today it has 5,000 residents in its city limits who enjoy the picturesque landscapes and small-town charm.

Auburn City

Serving almost 9,000 students, the Auburn City School District emphasizes a college and career readiness track. Today, it operates nine elementary schools, with one more under construction in 2022, one junior high, one middle school, and one high school. In total, it has 13 campuses with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1. The elementary schools are broken into K-2 and 3-5, with the lower school feeding directly into the upper school. The middle school is for sixth grade only, and the junior high is 7th grade only.

Auburn City has held an “A” status since 2018, including 2022. It’s also ranked third in the state on Niche.com for 2022. Auburn City High focuses on grades 10-12 and has a 1:1 iPad initiative program.

Auburn is in east-central Alabama and is best known for being the home of Auburn University. Around 65,000 people call it home, making it one of the largest cities in the state. The cost of living in Auburn is lower than in most areas of Alabama, providing an attractive option for those seeking a quality life without breaking their budgets.

Best Alabama Schools

Other high-performing districts, flirting between A & B grades from the DOE and well-regarded by independent evaluation sites, are Muscle Shoals City, Hartselle City, Gulf Shores City, and Winfield City.

These are top-performing school districts, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find great schools in other districts. For example, under Montgomery Public Schools, The Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School consistently lists as Alabama’s top high school. It comes in no.17 in the nation. The curriculum includes IB and AP courses and competitive academic groups like the Scholars Bowl and Science Olympiad. Of students taking AP exams, 84% scored a 3 or higher.

New Century Tech Demo High School is a magnet school for advanced industries and sciences run by Huntsville City. It is the second-best high school in the state. Around 92% of its student body took one AP exam, and it had a 100% graduation rate.

Living in Alabama

Education is just one factor in choosing where to live. Explore more of Alabama’s advantages by partnering with a local real estate agent.