Best Public Schools in Red Bay, AL

The city of Red Bay, Alabama, is served by two schools within the Franklin County school district, covering grades PK-12 with a combined enrollment of 732 students. Red Bay Elementary (PK-6) and Red Bay High School (7-12) share a unified campus, and both serve a moderate-poverty population with roughly 40% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Red Bay High School is the standout performer, currently holding a 4-star rating and ranking 105th in the state (72nd percentile). It boasts a 95.5% graduation rate, well above state and district averages, and its 8th grade cohort is exceptional—posting 85.71% proficiency in Science and 55.56% in Math, both more than double the state averages. The high school also outperforms the district in 11th grade math and science. However, 7th grade scores lag behind state averages, and 11th grade English proficiency has been persistently below state levels. Red Bay Elementary shows a different pattern: it excels dramatically in math (5th grade at 65.91% vs. 39.06% state; 6th grade at 59.62% vs. 35.22% state) but consistently trails slightly in English across all grades. The elementary school currently holds a 3-star rating, down from 4 stars the previous year, with its 4th grade science proficiency a notable weakness.

Both schools face challenges with chronic absenteeism, exceeding the state average of 12.0% (13.4% at elementary, 15.9% at high school), despite favorable student-teacher ratios of about 16:1. Year-to-year volatility in test scores—such as a 30-point drop in 7th grade math and a 28-point jump in 8th grade math—suggests small cohort sizes make comparisons less reliable. The most actionable takeaways for parents: the high school offers strong upper-grade academics and a high graduation rate, while the elementary school's math instruction is a clear strength. However, literacy support at both levels, particularly in upper elementary and 11th grade English, deserves attention, as does addressing chronic absenteeism to ensure consistent engagement.