Leeds City

Leeds City is a four-school district in Alabama serving about 2,271 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, and it holds a solid 3-star rating, ranking 50th out of 139 districts statewide.

The clear standout is Leeds High School, which earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 71st percentile—well ahead of every other school in the district. It boasts a 95.2% graduation rate, far above the state average, and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (11.7%) in the district. Meanwhile, Leeds Elementary School is the district's most improved campus, jumping from the 47th to the 60th percentile in a single year. Its 4th grade math proficiency nearly doubled (from 25.15% to 49.38%), and 4th grade science soared from 31.58% to 55%. This turnaround is especially notable because the elementary school receives the lowest per-student funding ($9,618) in the district, while Leeds Middle School and the high school receive more ($10,345 and $11,264, respectively).

The district's biggest challenge is a middle school math slump. At Leeds Middle School, 7th grade math proficiency sits at just 12.74%—roughly half the state average—though 8th grade rebounds to 35%, exceeding the state. English is a clear strength in the early grades: 3rd grade proficiency at Leeds Elementary School hits 72.9%, and all elementary grades stay above 64%. Science is also a district-wide bright spot, with 4th, 8th, and 11th grade scores all beating state averages. However, chronic absenteeism is highest among the youngest students—15.8% at Leeds Primary School and 15.5% at the elementary school—while older students attend more consistently. For parents, this district offers a strong high school, a rapidly improving elementary school, and clear areas—like middle school math—where targeted support could make a big difference.