Best Schools in Florence, Alabama
17 schools · 9 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Florence?
Use this page to compare every school in Florence 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.
Kilby Laboratory School
Elementary · Florence City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Weeden Elementary School
Elementary · Florence City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Harlan Elementary School
Elementary · Florence City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Florence for 2026 are Kilby Laboratory School (8.5/10), Weeden Elementary School (8.2/10), and Harlan Elementary School (7.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
17
13 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$197,867
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
17
13 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$197,867
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 11% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Florence schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Florence
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 17 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilby Laboratory School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Weeden Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Harlan Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Wilson Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Wilson High School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Forest Hills School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Underwood Elementary School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Florence Middle School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Rogers High School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Florence High School | 5.7 / 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
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $60,602
- Median home value
- $197,867
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 28%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69%
29% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Florence compares
Alabama rank
#68 of 179
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above Alabama avg (6.3)
Median household income
$61k
101% of Alabama median
Schools in this city
17
Florence City runs 62% of Florence's public schools
Florence touches 2 districts, but Florence City is the one most addresses actually attend.
Florence City accounts for 8 of 13 public schools (62%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 5.
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.2 to 8.5 — the spread is inside Florence, not a citywide average.
- Florence City8 public · 62%
- Lauderdale County5 public · 38%
About Schools in Florence, Alabama
Florence, Alabama has 13 ranked public schools, with a citywide average of 6.6 out of 10. Six of those 13 — 46% of the pool — score 7 or higher, a concentration of high performers that gives the city genuine range. The spectrum extends from solid mid-range schools up to one standout that sits well above the rest.
At the top of the field, Kilby Laboratory School earns a 9.3 out of 10 — the highest score in Florence and a substantial gap above the city average. Wilson Elementary (8.4) and Rogers Elementary (8.3) rank directly behind it, giving the city three elementary schools clustered in the upper tier. Forest Hills School and Underwood Elementary both score 7.9, rounding out a group of five schools that parents can approach with confidence.
The concentration of strength at the elementary level is the defining feature of Florence's schools landscape. All five top-rated schools are elementaries, which means parents with K-5 children have the widest and most competitive selection. The 46% rate of schools scoring 7 or higher signals that high performance here is not limited to a single outlier — nearly half the system clears a threshold that reflects real academic strength.
For parents researching Florence, the practical takeaway is straightforward: the ceiling is high and the floor is solid. Kilby Laboratory School at 9.3 merits a close look for any family whose child is eligible. Wilson, Rogers, Forest Hills, and Underwood all perform well enough that assignment to any of them should be reassuring rather than a fallback. The 6.6 citywide average means the system as a whole holds up, and the 46% above 7 means that in Florence, finding a strong school close to home is a realistic outcome for most families.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 201 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | 422 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.2 | ||
| 3 | 389 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.0 | ||
| 4 | 556 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.0 | ||
| 5 | 827 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.4 | ||
| 6 | 352 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.4 | ||
| 7 | 585 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.2 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 109 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Riverhill SchoolPrivate 136 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 649 students · 7th–8th | 6.2 |
| 2 | 576 students · 5th–6th | 5.3 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 599 students · 7th–12th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 539 students · 7th–12th | 6.2 |
| 3 | 1,074 students · 10th–12th | 5.7 |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 381 students · 9th–9th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Mars Hill BiblePrivate 631 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Shoals Christian SchoolPrivate 312 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Florence
Florence, Alabama · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$60,602
Median Home Value
$197,867
Median Rent
$829/mo
Population
65,383
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
69%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Community Profile
Florence has a median household income of $60,602. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $197,867, with a median rent of $829/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.6%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Alabama
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 3
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 Florence, Alabama
How many schools are in Florence, Alabama?
Florence has 17 schools, including 13 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Florence, Alabama?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Florence is 6.5 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 Florence, Alabama?
The top-ranked school in Florence on MySchoolScout is Kilby Laboratory School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Florence, Alabama?
The top-ranked elementary school in Florence on MySchoolScout is Kilby Laboratory School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Florence, Alabama?
The top-ranked middle school in Florence on MySchoolScout is Florence Middle School with a composite score of 6.2/10.
What is the best high school in Florence, Alabama?
The top-ranked high school in Florence on MySchoolScout is Wilson High School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
How many school districts serve Florence, Alabama?
Florence is served by 2 school districts: Florence City, Lauderdale County.
What is the education level in Florence, Alabama?
According to Census data, 28% of adults in Florence have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Florence, Alabama?
The median household income in Florence is approximately $60,602 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Florence, Alabama?
Yes, Florence has 4 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Joseph Regional Catholic School with a score of 8.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Florence, Alabama?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Florence is 15.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Florence, 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.