Baldwin County

The Baldwin County school district in Alabama serves over 27,000 students across 42 schools, including 25 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 8 high schools, and 1 alternative school, and is ranked 33rd out of 139 districts statewide with a 4-star rating.

For parents, the standout schools in this district are concentrated in the eastern corridor. Fairhope High School is the district's premier high school, ranking #10 statewide with dramatically higher test scores than the state average (58.99% Math proficiency vs. 27.21% statewide) and a 91% graduation rate. Spanish Fort High School boasts the highest graduation rate at 96.6% and the lowest chronic absenteeism among traditional high schools at just 7.3%. At the elementary level, Fairhope West Elementary ranks #18 statewide with extraordinary 3rd grade Math proficiency of 82.2%, while Rockwell Elementary has the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 4.7%. The most improved schools include Rosinton School, which jumped 147 positions in state rankings, and Perdido Elementary School, which improved 124 positions. Schools of concern include Pine Grove Elementary School (21st percentile, 1-star) and Swift Elementary School, both with high economic disadvantage and low proficiency rates.

There is a clear geographic divide in performance, with eastern schools (Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Daphne) consistently outperforming central and western schools (Foley, Bay Minette, Robertsdale). This correlates strongly with socioeconomic factors—top-performing schools have free/reduced lunch rates below 27%, while struggling schools exceed 60%. Chronic absenteeism is a strong predictor of performance: top schools have rates below 6%, while Foley High School (21.5%) and Baldwin County High School (20.6%) have rates nearly double the state average. Some "hidden gems" outperform expectations given their demographics, including Elberta Middle School (93rd percentile despite 42.75% FRPL) and J Larry Newton School (93rd percentile with 86.96% 5th grade Math proficiency). Interestingly, Baldwin County Virtual School ranks #31 statewide with strong test scores but has the district's lowest graduation rate at 74.7%. The district outperforms the state in nearly every subject, but its graduation rate (89.6%) falls below the state average (91.5%), suggesting retention challenges despite strong assessment performance.