Jefferson County School District
School District · Birmingham, Alabama
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
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
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
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%
Resources
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 methodologyOther School Districts in AL
Compare Jefferson County with neighboring districts in the state.
- Mobile County (92)
- Montgomery County (52)
- Birmingham City (49)
- 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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