Best Schools in Birmingham, Alabama
104 schools · 58 Elementary · 10 Middle · 21 High · 15 Other
Choosing a school in Birmingham?
Use this page to compare every school in Birmingham by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Christian School
Elementary · Birmingham City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Inverness Elementary School
Elementary · Shelby County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Avondale Elementary School
Elementary · Birmingham City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Birmingham for 2026 are Christian School (9.4/10), Inverness Elementary School (9.2/10), and Avondale Elementary School (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 58 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
104
59 public · 45 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$218,443
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
104
59 public · 45 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$218,443
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 9.4/10 despite 62% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Birmingham schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Birmingham
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 58 rated schools; 104 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian School | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Inverness Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Avondale Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Oak Mountain Intermediate School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Epic Alternative Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Oak Mountain High School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Norwood Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Richard Arrington Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Oxmoor K5 | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Bryant Park Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $57,493
- Median home value
- $218,443
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 54%
36% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Birmingham compares
Alabama rank
#101 of 179
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below Alabama avg (6.3)
Median household income
$57k
96% of Alabama median
Schools in this city
96
Education Snapshot
Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham spreads 98 schools across 6 districts, with a level split of 56 elementary, 21 high, 11 middle, and 10 combined or alternative campuses serving roughly 37,186 students. Of the 98, 89 carry a MySchoolScout composite rating averaging 6.2/10 — two-tenths of a point below Alabama's statewide average of 6.4/10; nine campuses are not yet scored. The city's median household income of $60,426 runs 5% below the Alabama state median of $63,554. Thirty-six percent of Birmingham adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Four charter schools offer an alternative to the six traditional district systems, though they represent a small share of the 98 total campuses. Because six separate districts divide the city, assigned schools and scores shift by neighborhood — the list below reflects the full 98-school range across all district boundaries.
Birmingham City runs 71% of Birmingham's public schools
Birmingham touches 6 districts, but Birmingham City is the one most addresses actually attend.
Birmingham City accounts for 42 of 59 public schools (71%). The other 5 districts hold the remaining 17.
Among 58 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.5 to 9.4 — the spread is inside Birmingham, not a citywide average.
- Birmingham City42 public · 71%
- Jefferson County7 public · 12%
- Shelby County6 public · 10%
- I3 Academy2 public · 3%
- Legacy Prep1 public · 2%
About Schools in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham's public school landscape spans 58 ranked schools, giving parents a wide field to navigate. The city averages 6.4 out of 10 across those schools — a middle-range baseline that masks real variation at both ends of the scale. Forty-three percent of ranked schools, 25 in total, score 7 or higher, meaning strong options exist but require deliberate searching rather than defaulting to geography alone.
Elementary performance is where Birmingham's highest scores concentrate. Inverness Elementary leads all ranked public schools with a 9.0 out of 10, the top mark in the city. Oliver K5 School follows at 8.9, and Center Point Elementary, Oak Mountain Elementary, and South Hampton K8 each score in the 8.3–8.4 range. Together, these five schools signal that Birmingham has genuine high performers at the elementary level — not outliers, but a recognizable tier of schools clearing well above the city average.
The spread between the city average and those top scores matters for practical decision-making. A 6.4 citywide average with a top score of 9.0 means parents in some attendance zones will face a significant performance gap depending on where they land. Families with flexibility — through open enrollment, magnet options, or relocation — have the most to gain from researching specific schools rather than assuming district-wide consistency. Parents locked into a specific address should treat local school scores as a starting point and look deeper at grade-level performance data.
Birmingham rewards research. The fact that 25 schools clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold shows the city is not a uniform landscape — high-performing schools are real and accessible for parents who prioritize school quality in their housing decisions. Start with the top elementary tier, map those schools against your target neighborhoods, and use MySchoolScout's comparison tools to check individual school scores against Birmingham's 6.4 average as your reference point. That average is your benchmark: any school above it is outperforming the city norm, and schools at 8.0 or higher represent a meaningful step up.
Elementary Schools
58 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 587 students · Pre-K–8th | 9.4 |
| 2 | 563 students · Pre-K–3rd | 9.2 |
| 3 | 327 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 4 | 638 students · 4th–5th | 8.1 |
| 5 | 293 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 6 | 227 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 7 | 321 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 8 | 492 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 9 | 646 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 10 | 420 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.2 |
Show all 58 elementary schools in Birmingham
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,194 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 298 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 447 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 | ||
| 4 | 323 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 | ||
| 5 | 425 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 | ||
| 6 | 402 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 | ||
| 7 | 326 students · 6th–8th | 4.7 | ||
| 8 | 440 students · 6th–8th | 4.6 | ||
| 9 | 312 students · 6th–8th | 3.6 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Winewood Christian SchoolPrivate 2 students · 8th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
21 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,652 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 711 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 683 students · 7th–12th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 1,123 students · 8th–12th | 5.9 |
| 5 | 343 students · 6th–12th | 5.1 |
| 6 | 544 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 |
| 7 | 854 students · 9th–12th | 4.5 |
| 8 | 669 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 |
| 9 | 758 students · 8th–12th | 3.8 |
| 10 | 764 students · 9th–12th | 3.6 |
Show all 21 high schools in Birmingham
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 215 students · 3rd–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 2 | 227 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.1 | ||
Private Schools13 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Spring Valley SchoolPrivate 131 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Glen Iris Baptist SchoolPrivate 93 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Mountain View Baptist SchoolPrivate 71 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Islamic Academy of AlabamaPrivate 214 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | 81 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | Allan Cott SchoolPrivate 59 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | Cornerstone High SchoolPrivate 659 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 8 | 659 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 15 other schools in Birmingham
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama · 104 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 23 ZIP codes
Median Income
$57,493
Median Home Value
$218,443
Median Rent
$1,060/mo
Population
362,875
College Educated
33%
Homeownership
54%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
22.4%
Community Profile
Birmingham has a median household income of $57,493. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $218,443, with a median rent of $1,060/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Alabama
- Elementary
- 58
- Middle
- 10
- High
- 21
- Other
- 15
Resources
Other Major Cities in Alabama
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Birmingham, Alabama
How many schools are in Birmingham, Alabama?
Birmingham has 104 schools, including 59 public and 45 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Birmingham, Alabama?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Birmingham is 6.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Birmingham, Alabama?
The top-ranked school in Birmingham on MySchoolScout is Christian School with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Birmingham, Alabama?
The top-ranked elementary school in Birmingham on MySchoolScout is Christian School with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Birmingham, Alabama?
The top-ranked middle school in Birmingham on MySchoolScout is Oak Mountain Middle School with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best high school in Birmingham, Alabama?
The top-ranked high school in Birmingham on MySchoolScout is Oak Mountain High School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
How many school districts serve Birmingham, Alabama?
Birmingham is served by 6 school districts: Legacy Prep, I3 Academy, Magic City Acceptance Academy, Birmingham City, Jefferson County, Shelby County.
What is the education level in Birmingham, Alabama?
According to Census data, 33% of adults in Birmingham have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Birmingham, Alabama?
The median household income in Birmingham is approximately $57,493 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Birmingham, Alabama?
Yes, Birmingham has 45 private schools alongside 59 public schools. The top-rated private school is Creative Montessori School with a score of 9.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Birmingham, Alabama?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Birmingham is 15.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Birmingham, Alabama?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Alabama Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.