Summary:
Jacksonville, Alabama is served by four schools across two districts—Jacksonville City and Calhoun County—encompassing two elementary schools (PK-6) and two high schools (7-12), with a combined enrollment of roughly 2,536 students in this small college town.
For parents, the standout school is Pleasant Valley Elementary School, which outperforms its higher-ranked district counterpart, Kitty Stone Elementary School, in nearly every subject despite being in the lower-ranked Calhoun County system. Pleasant Valley Elementary’s math proficiency is exceptional—6th grade math hits 55.93% versus the state’s 35.22%—and its 3rd grade English proficiency of 84.62% is 20 points above the state average. Meanwhile, Jacksonville High School shows elite potential, ranking 10th in the state (97th percentile) in 2024-2025, though its 2025-2026 ranking slipped to 57th (85th percentile). Its 11th grade English proficiency remains strong at 49.12% versus the state’s 33.73%. Pleasant Valley High School excels in 7th grade math (50% vs. 24.46% state) and boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate, far exceeding Jacksonville High’s 90.8%.
Key takeaways for families: district rankings don’t predict school performance—Pleasant Valley Elementary outshines Kitty Stone despite its district’s lower standing. Both high schools struggle with 8th grade math, suggesting a transition challenge. Chronic absenteeism is a strong indicator of success: Pleasant Valley High has the lowest rate (8.1%) and highest graduation rate, while Kitty Stone Elementary has the highest absenteeism (14.1%) and most academic struggles. Economic diversity is moderate (free/reduced lunch rates from 44.4% to 57.8%), yet Pleasant Valley Elementary excels despite similar economic challenges to Kitty Stone. Per-student spending is higher at the high schools ($10,088-$10,421) than elementary schools ($8,962-$8,982), and student-teacher ratios are favorable across all schools (15.9:1 to 18.9:1).
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