Summary:
There is just one high school in Cleveland, Alabama—Cleveland High School, part of the Blount County district—serving grades 7 through 12 with 389 students in a small-town setting.
For parents, the standout story here is momentum. Cleveland High School has improved its state ranking from #109 to #69 in just two years and has held a 4-star rating for three straight years. The most dramatic gains are in the middle grades: 7th grade math proficiency more than doubled from 13% to 34% in one year, and 8th grade science jumped from 41% to 70%. English scores are also strong, with 7th and 8th graders scoring 71% proficiency—well above state averages. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate is just 0.2%, compared to 12% statewide, which is a huge factor in its success. Graduation rates are also excellent at 97.4%, beating the state average of 91.5%.
There are two clear areas needing attention. Eighth grade math proficiency sits at 15.5%, far below the state average of 26.4%, even though 8th grade science and English are among the school’s best subjects. Similarly, 11th grade English proficiency drops to 40%, a steep decline from the 71% seen in 8th grade, suggesting a challenging transition to high school coursework. With nearly half of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school’s above-average performance in most subjects shows effective teaching is overcoming economic barriers. If the current upward trend continues—especially in middle grades—Cleveland High School appears well-positioned to reach 5-star status within a couple of years.
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