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6.0 avg / 10

Jefferson County School District

School District · Birmingham, Alabama

Students: 35,671
Teachers (FTE): 2,015

Avg Rating

6.0

out of 10

Schools

56

30 elem, 11 mid, 13 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$12,194

Student-Teacher Ratio

17.7:1

How this district compares

Alabama rank

#119 of 141

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-0.5

below Alabama avg

Per-pupil spending

$12,194

$614 vs Alabama median

District size

35,671 students

Much larger than Alabama median

About Jefferson County

Jefferson County School District serves 35,671 students across 57 schools in Alabama, making it one of the larger districts in the state. With 55 ranked schools averaging a 6.0 out of 10, the district lands in solid middle ground — parents will find real variation in performance across campuses, which makes school-level research worth the effort.

At the top of that range sits Hueytown Primary School, the district's highest-rated campus at 8.8 out of 10. Four other elementary schools follow close behind: Pinson Elementary at 8.7, Bryan Elementary at 8.6, Center Point Elementary at 8.4, and McAdory Elementary at 8.0. All five clear the district average by a meaningful margin, and each earns its score through demonstrated academic outcomes rather than reputation alone. Parents focused on early elementary years will find the strongest concentration of high performers in this grade band.

The district average of 6.0 across 55 ranked schools signals a wide spread between top and bottom performers. That gap matters when choosing a school. Families already assigned to one of the five standout elementaries are in a strong position; those zoned elsewhere should look closely at individual school scores before assuming their neighborhood campus performs near the district mean. Jefferson County's size — nearly 36,000 students — also means resources, programs, and staff quality can differ substantially from one campus to the next.

For parents comparing Jefferson County against peer districts in Alabama, the 6.0 district average and the cluster of high-scoring elementaries give it a competitive baseline. The presence of multiple schools above 8.0 at the elementary level suggests the district develops strong academic foundations early. Parents prioritizing elementary performance have clear targets to pursue — Hueytown Primary, Pinson, and Bryan stand out as the most consistently strong options the district offers.

District Map

Schools in Jefferson County, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency 20.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 47.4%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in Jefferson County with test data.

Schools in Jefferson County

56 schools
Elementary Schools 30
Middle Schools 11
High Schools 13
Other Schools 2

District Details

State
Alabama
City
Birmingham
Total Enrollment
35,671
Teachers (FTE)
2,015
Child Poverty Rate
0.2%
Data Year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Jefferson County?

Jefferson County has 56 schools in total — 30 elementary, 11 middle, and 13 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Jefferson County?

The average composite rating for Jefferson County is 6.0/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the per-pupil spending in Jefferson County?

Jefferson County spends $12,194 per student per year.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Jefferson County?

The average student-teacher ratio in Jefferson County is 17.7:1.

What is the top-rated school in Jefferson County?

Hueytown Primary School is the highest-rated school in Jefferson County with a composite score of 8.8/10.

What are the test scores in Jefferson County?

Across schools in Jefferson County with test data, the average math proficiency is 20.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 47.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Jefferson County compare to other districts in Alabama?

Jefferson County has an average school rating of 6.0/10 across 56 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 are based on a comprehensive methodology that weighs Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
6.0/10
Math Proficiency
20.7%
ELA Proficiency
47.4%

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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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