📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Alabama
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mountain Brook City School District | Birmingham | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Vestavia Hills City School District | Birmingham | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Homewood City School District | Birmingham | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | Trussville City School District | Trussville | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #5 | Saraland City School District | Saraland | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #6 | Madison City Schools | Madison | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #7 | Hoover City School District | Birmingham | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #8 | Auburn City Schools | Auburn | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #9 | Piedmont City School District | Piedmont | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #10 | Gulf Shores City School District | Gulf Shores | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #11 | Enterprise City School District | Enterprise | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #12 | Shelby County School District | Calera | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #13 | Winfield City School District | Winfield | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #14 | Brewton City School District | Brewton | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #15 | Madison County School District | Brownsboro | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #16 | Satsuma City School District | Satsuma | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #17 | Andalusia City School District | Andalusia | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #18 | Baldwin County School District | Bay Minette | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #19 | Houston County School District | Ashford | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
| #20 | Alabaster City School District | Alabaster | 9/10 Excellent | 82th |
| #21 | Geneva City School District | Geneva | 9/10 Excellent | 81th |
| #22 | Dale County School District | Ariton | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
| #23 | Pelham City School District | Pelham | 8/10 Good | 79th |
| #24 | Coffee County School District | Jack | 8/10 Good | 78th |
| #25 | Opp City School District | Opp | 8/10 Good | 78th |
Best School Districts in Alabama (2026)
This ranking covers 109 rated public school districts in Alabama, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data (2021–22 for 90% of districts, 2017–18 fallback for the rest). Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Alabama School Districts at a Glance
- 109 of the 140 regular school districts operating in Alabama have a published rating on this site.
- 33 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from NCES EDFacts, and every district is ranked against other districts in Alabama only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Mountain Brook City School District in Birmingham, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Alabama is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Alabama? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 or 2017–18 fallback), the top-rated district is Mountain Brook City School District in Birmingham, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Alabama? ▼
Alabama has 140 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 109 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Alabama school district ratings based on? ▼
NCES EDFacts. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Alabama and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Alabama are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
33 of the 109 rated districts in Alabama score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Alabama, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Alabama? ▼
In Alabama nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Alabama is not one of them.