Excellent
#274 of 1,356 schools in AL
Top 20% in state
Valley Head High School
School · Dekalb County · Valley Head, AL
A Dekalb County school where students score 9 points above what's typical for similar communities.
PO Box 149, Valley Head, AL 35989
- Math 17% proficient (2022)
- Reading 91% vs AL 87% (2024)
- 90%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Valley Head High School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
2024 ACAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AL average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 64 points since 2020, reaching 91% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from AL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
67.1%
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 Valley Head 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 17Car-Dependent
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average256/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$43,750
Median home value
$89,500
Median rent
$730/mo
College educated
11.6%
Homeownership
79.9%
Poverty rate
20.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 35989; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in DeKalb County
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collinsville High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | PK–12 | Not available | 886 | Compare → |
| Fyffe High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | PK–12 | Not available | 939 | Compare → |
| Ider SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | PK–12 | Not available | 593 | Compare → |
| Plainview SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | PK–12 | Not available | 1,218 | 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.
Dekalb County
- Schools in district
- 15
- Rank in district
- #5 of 12
- District spending per student
- $12,528NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 25.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Valley Head High School is listed in DeKalb County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Valley Head High School
Valley Head High School is a public school in Valley Head, AL, part of Dekalb County, serving approximately 492 students in grades Pre-K-12th with a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #274 of 1,356 schools in AL. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Valley Head High School
What grades does Valley Head High School serve?
Valley Head High School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.
How many students attend Valley Head High School?
Valley Head High School has an enrollment of approximately 492 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Head High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Head High School is 14.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Valley Head High School rank in AL?
Valley Head High School ranks #274 of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Valley Head High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Valley Head High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Valley Head High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Valley Head High School has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Valley Head High School a charter school?
No, Valley Head High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Valley Head High School a Title I school?
No, Valley Head High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Valley Head High School?
67.1% of students at Valley Head 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
- Pre-K – 12th
- Enrollment
- 492
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- DeKalb County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.1%
- Phone
- (256) 635-6228
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90%+
- Area population (ZIP 35989)
- 3,793
- Area average commute
- 30.4 min
- Area median age
- 36
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 · 2024 ACAP · 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 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 35989; 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, multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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