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#1037 of 1,356 schools in AL

Gadsden City High School

High School · Gadsden City

1917 Black Creek Pkwy, Gadsden, AL 35904

Enrollment

1,309

Student-Teacher

15.6:1

Score

5.3

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Gadsden

#15 of 15

public schools

Alabama high schools

#144 of 308

In district

#12 of 12

Gadsden City

School environment

8.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Gadsden City High School

Gadsden City High School serves 1,309 students in grades 9-12 in Gadsden, Alabama, with a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1 across 84 full-time equivalent teachers. As a regular public high school in Etowah County, the school is working to strengthen academic achievement, with current proficiency rates of 21% in English Language Arts and 19% in mathematics across grade levels, indicating significant room for academic growth. The school ranks in the 35th percentile among Alabama high schools, placing 879th out of 1,360 schools statewide.

With a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10, Gadsden City High School faces ongoing challenges in supporting student academic development, though the manageable class sizes provide opportunities for more individualized attention. The school draws from a community where the median household income is $42,738 and the median home value is $94,700. About 23% of families in the area live below the poverty line, and 12% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, reflecting the socioeconomic challenges that many students navigate alongside their education.

Located on Black Creek Parkway in this small Alabama city of approximately 13,500 residents in the immediate ZIP code area, Gadsden City High School serves as a central educational institution in this close-knit Etowah County community.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress2.6Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-6.76 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics4.6Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency19%
Reading/ELA Proficiency21%
Overall Proficiency20%
Expected (poverty-adj.)28%
vs. Expected-8.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile27th
College Readiness5.8Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation13.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,669

Gadsden City High School — Students at Gadsden City High School score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

76%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 25.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 28.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from AL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
40%
ELA
39%
2021*
Math
17%
ELA
24%
2022
Math
19%
ELA
21%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.6/10.

How Gadsden City High School Compares

See how Gadsden City High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.3/10
24th percentile in AL
Academic
4.6/10
4.6/10
Growth
2.6/10
Below average
Environment
8.8/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
76%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
84 teachers

Location

1917 Black Creek Pkwy, Gadsden, AL 35904

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Gadsden City High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Etowah High School (rated 5.2/10, 4.2 miles away, in nearby Attalla), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Southside High School (rated 4.5/10, 5.2 miles away, in nearby Southside), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Gadsden, see our Gadsden schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.5 mi
School Distance Rating
COOSA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Gadsden 0.7 mi 7.3
Eura Brown Elementary School Gadsden 1.6 mi 9.1
Walnut Park Elementary School Gadsden 1.5 mi 8.4
Sansom Middle School Gadsden 1.9 mi 5.8
Gadsden Middle School Gadsden 1.7 mi 5.3
W E Striplin Elementary School Gadsden 1.8 mi 6.8
HOLY COMFORTER EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Gadsden 1.9 mi 6.4
Floyd Elementary School Gadsden 2.2 mi 7.8
WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Rainbow City 2.6 mi 5.3
Mitchell Elementary School Gadsden 3.2 mi 7.9
Rainbow Middle School Rainbow City 3.6 mi 4.5
Donehoo Elementary School Gadsden 3.1 mi 5.9
John S Jones Elementary School Rainbow City 3.7 mi 7.8
ST JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Gadsden 3.4 mi 8.6
Adams Elementary School Gadsden 4.0 mi 7.8
Litchfield Middle School Gadsden 4.1 mi 6.4
Etowah High School Attalla 4.2 mi 5.2
Southside High School Southside 5.2 mi 4.5
Etowah Middle School Attalla 4.3 mi 5.0
Southside Elementary School Southside 5.5 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 35904 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$40,915

Median Home Value

$100,100

Median Rent

$792/mo

Population

13,571

College Educated

11.4%

Homeownership

69.9%

Avg Commute

20 min

Poverty Rate

26.3%

Median Age

40.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Gadsden City High School has a median household income of $40,915. It is a community where 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $100,100, with a median rent of $792/month. The area has a poverty rate of 26.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Lillie B Williamson High School Mobile, AL 5.3
MCGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Mobile, AL 5.3
Mortimer Jordan High School Kimberly, AL 5.3
Sparkman High School Harvest, AL 5.3
East Limestone High School Athens, AL 5.2
McAdory High School Mccalla, AL 5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Gadsden City High School

What grades does Gadsden City High School serve?

Gadsden City High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Gadsden City High School?

Gadsden City High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,309 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Gadsden City High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Gadsden City High School is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Gadsden City High School rank in AL?

Gadsden City High School is ranked #1037 out of 1,356 schools in AL.

What is Gadsden City High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Gadsden City High School has a composite rating of 5.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Gadsden City High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Gadsden City High School has 25.3% math proficiency and 28.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Gadsden City High School a charter school?

No, Gadsden City High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Gadsden City High School a Title I school?

No, Gadsden City High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Gadsden City High School?

76.0% of students at Gadsden 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
15 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
43 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,171/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Gadsden). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,309
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
84
Free/Reduced Lunch
76.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Etowah County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Gadsden City
District Enrollment
4,872
Schools in District
15
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,509
District Rank
#12 of 12

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

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