Cullman City

The Cullman City school district in Alabama serves approximately 3,243 students across five schools—three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—and is a high-performing, 5-star district ranked 8th out of 139 districts statewide (94th percentile).

For parents, this district offers consistently strong academics, but there are notable differences between schools. Cullman Middle School is the academic standout, ranking 9th out of 443 middle schools in Alabama (98th percentile) with exceptional 8th-grade science proficiency (86.4%) and the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism rate (4.2%). At the elementary level, East Elementary School leads the way, ranking in the top 5% statewide and posting a remarkable 96.3% English proficiency and 87.04% math proficiency in 5th grade—all while spending the least per student ($7,870). Cullman High School is also top-tier, ranking 12th out of 380 high schools (97th percentile) with a 96.8% graduation rate and proficiency rates roughly double the state average. However, West Elementary School lags behind its sibling schools: it ranks in the 87th percentile (down from 94th three years ago), has a higher chronic absenteeism rate (12.0%), and shows lower test scores—for example, 53.72% proficiency in 5th-grade math versus East’s 87.04%. Cullman City Primary School serves the youngest students and has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (40.03%).

Key takeaways: Cullman Middle School’s science program is a district gem, and Cullman High School showed dramatic year-over-year improvement (11th-grade math jumped from 36.16% to 52.77% proficiency). East Elementary demonstrates that high achievement doesn’t require high spending, making it a model of efficiency. West Elementary, with its higher absenteeism and declining ranking, appears to be the school with the most room for growth within an otherwise excellent district. Overall, parents can expect strong outcomes across most schools, with East Elementary and Cullman Middle School as the standout choices.