Needs Improvement
#1275 of 1,356 schools in AL
Bessemer City High School
High School · Bessemer City · Bessemer, AL
A high school in Bessemer, AL where students score 43 points below what's typical for similar communities.
4950 Premiere Parkway, Bessemer, AL 35022
- Math 3% proficient (2022)
- Reading 8% proficient (2022)
- 67.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Bessemer City High School score 5% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 56 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 5% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 18% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 27% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from AL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
60.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Bessemer City High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 26Car-Dependent
- Bike 22Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High8,900/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Bessemer), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$79,084
Median home value
$241,300
Median rent
$991/mo
College educated
34%
Homeownership
80.8%
Poverty rate
10.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 35022; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mcadory High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | 9–12 | 2.8 mi | 1,240 | Compare → |
| Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | Not rated | 9–10 | 3.0 mi | 168 | Compare → |
| Hueytown High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.0 | 9–12 | 4.6 mi | 1,171 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Bessemer City
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #6 of 7
- District spending per student
- $15,437NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 33.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bessemer City High School is listed in Bessemer City; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bessemer City High School
Bessemer City High School is a public high school in Bessemer, AL, part of Bessemer City, serving approximately 805 students in grades 9th-12th with a 23.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,275 of 1,356 schools in AL. State assessment records show 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bessemer City High School
What grades does Bessemer City High School serve?
Bessemer City High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Bessemer City High School?
Bessemer City High School has an enrollment of approximately 805 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City High School is 23.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bessemer City High School rank in AL?
Bessemer City High School ranks #1,275 of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Bessemer City High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Bessemer City High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bessemer City High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bessemer City High School has 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Bessemer City High School a charter school?
No, Bessemer City High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bessemer City High School a Title I school?
No, Bessemer City High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bessemer City High School?
60.7% of students at Bessemer City High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 805
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 23.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Jefferson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 66.7%
- Phone
- (205) 432-3700
- 4-Year Graduation
- 67.0%
- Area population (ZIP 35022)
- 23,989
- Area average commute
- 30.3 min
- Area median age
- 43.2
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 35022; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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