Birmingham City School District
School District · Birmingham, Alabama
Avg Rating
5.5
out of 10
Schools
43
27 elem, 8 mid, 7 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,201
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.7:1
Avg Rating
5.5
out of 10
Schools
43
27 elem, 8 mid, 7 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,201
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.7:1
Evaluating Birmingham City?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Birmingham City as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Oxmoor K5
Birmingham · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Richard Arrington Elementary
Birmingham · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Phillips Academy
Birmingham · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Alabama rank
#125 of 141
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.0
below Alabama avg
Per-pupil spending
$16,201
+$3,393 vs Alabama median
District size
20,884 students
Much larger than Alabama median
The short answer
Birmingham City ranks #125 of 141 Alabama districts by overall school rating. Birmingham City's schools with real test data average 5.5/10 across 42 schools. Its top-rated schools are Oxmoor K5 (8.4/10), Richard Arrington Elementary (8.4/10), and Phillips Academy (8.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.4/10 despite 85% 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 City schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Birmingham City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (42 of 43). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxmoor K5 | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Richard Arrington Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Phillips Academy | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Oliver K5 School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Christian School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Epic Alternative Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Tuggle Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Hayes K8 | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Wylam Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Charles a Brown Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
See all 43 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Birmingham City
Birmingham City is a Birmingham, Alabama school district serving 43 schools. The district educates 20,884 students with a student-teacher ratio of 18.7:1. The district invests $16,201 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.5/10, Birmingham City demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Oxmoor K5, which has a composite score of 8.4/10.
In standardized testing, Birmingham City students show an average math proficiency of 30.8% and ELA proficiency of 39.2%.
The district includes 27 elementary schools , 8 middle schools , and 7 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Birmingham City, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Birmingham City with test data.
Schools in Birmingham City
43 schools Elementary Schools 27
Middle Schools 8
High Schools 7
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Alabama
- City
- Birmingham
- Total Enrollment
- 20,884
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,118
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.4%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Birmingham City?
Birmingham City has 43 schools in total — 27 elementary, 8 middle, and 7 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Birmingham City?
The average composite rating for Birmingham City is 5.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Birmingham City?
Birmingham City spends $16,201 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Birmingham City?
The average student-teacher ratio in Birmingham City is 18.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Birmingham City?
Oxmoor K5 is the highest-rated school in Birmingham City with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What are the test scores in Birmingham City?
Across schools in Birmingham City with test data, the average math proficiency is 30.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 39.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Birmingham City compare to other districts in Alabama?
Birmingham City has an average school rating of 5.5/10 across 43 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Alabama by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 30.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 39.2%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in AL
Compare Birmingham City with neighboring districts in the state.
- Mobile County (92)
- Jefferson County (57)
- Montgomery County (52)
- Huntsville City (45)
- Baldwin County (44)
- Tuscaloosa County (36)
- Shelby County (33)
- Madison County (30)
- Cullman County (27)
- Etowah County (24)
- Tuscaloosa City (21)
- Calhoun County (20)
- Decatur City (20)
- St Clair County (20)
- Hoover City (18)
- Dothan City (18)
- Jackson County (18)
- Morgan County (18)
- Talladega County (18)
- Walker County (18)
- Blount County (17)
- Elmore County (17)
- Limestone County (17)
- Houston County (16)
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.
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