Etowah County School District
School District · Gadsden, Alabama
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
21
11 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,215
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
21
11 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,215
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
Evaluating Etowah County?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Etowah County 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.
John S Jones Elementary School
Rainbow City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Gaston Elementary School
Gadsden · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Highland Elementary School
Gadsden · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Alabama rank
#81 of 141
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.0
below Alabama avg
Per-pupil spending
$11,215
$1,593 vs Alabama median
District size
8,714 students
Much larger than Alabama median
The short answer
Etowah County ranks #81 of 141 Alabama districts by overall school rating. Etowah County's schools with real test data average 6.4/10 across 21 schools. Its top-rated schools are John S Jones Elementary School (9.0/10), Gaston Elementary School (8.9/10), and Highland Elementary School (8.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.0/10 despite 64% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Etowah County schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Etowah County
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (21 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John S Jones Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Gaston Elementary School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Highland Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Southside Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Hokes Bluff Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Glencoe Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Whitesboro Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Ivalee Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Duck Springs Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | West End Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
See all 21 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Etowah County
Etowah County is a Gadsden, Alabama school district serving 21 schools. The district educates 8,714 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17.2:1. The district invests $11,215 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.4/10, Etowah County demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is John S Jones Elementary School, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.
In standardized testing, Etowah County students show an average math proficiency of 50.6% and ELA proficiency of 61.6%.
The district includes 11 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Etowah County, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Etowah County with test data.
Schools in Etowah County
21 schools Elementary Schools 11
Middle Schools 4
District Details
- State
- Alabama
- City
- Gadsden
- Total Enrollment
- 8,714
- Teachers (FTE)
- 506
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Etowah County?
Etowah County has 21 schools in total — 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Etowah County?
The average composite rating for Etowah County is 6.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Etowah County?
Etowah County spends $11,215 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Etowah County?
The average student-teacher ratio in Etowah County is 17.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Etowah County?
John S Jones Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Etowah County with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What are the test scores in Etowah County?
Across schools in Etowah County with test data, the average math proficiency is 50.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 61.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Etowah County compare to other districts in Alabama?
Etowah County has an average school rating of 6.4/10 across 21 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
- 6.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 50.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 61.6%
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 Etowah County with neighboring districts in the state.
- Mobile County (92)
- Jefferson County (57)
- Montgomery County (52)
- Birmingham City (49)
- Huntsville City (45)
- Baldwin County (44)
- Tuscaloosa County (36)
- Shelby County (33)
- Madison County (30)
- Cullman County (27)
- 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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