Fort Payne City

The Fort Payne City school district serves approximately 3,377 students across four schools in northeastern Alabama, covering grades K-12 with two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

Fort Payne High School is the district's standout performer, having climbed an extraordinary 122 positions in state rankings over two years to reach the 82nd percentile. It boasts a 98% graduation rate, well above the state average, and leads the district in all tested subjects—with 11th-grade science proficiency at 47.51% versus the state's 36.17%. The high school also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (7.8%) despite serving a student body where 62% qualify for free/reduced lunch. In contrast, Fort Payne Middle School excels in science, with 61.09% of 8th graders proficient—nearly 7 points above the state—and outperforms state averages in English across all grade levels. However, the middle school shows a concerning "math dip," with 7th-grade proficiency dropping to just 23.97%, the lowest in the district.

The elementary schools present a mixed picture. Little Ridge Intermediate School demonstrates strong English skills (61.63% to 72.31% proficiency) but falls below state averages in 4th-grade science. Wills Valley Elementary School serves the youngest students with the highest poverty rate (65.99%) and struggles with chronic absenteeism at 12.2%—above the state average. Despite these challenges, the district achieves above-state-average results in most categories, with English language arts being a consistent strength across all grade levels. The high school's dramatic year-over-year improvements—science proficiency nearly doubling in one year—suggest effective interventions are working. While middle school mathematics remains the primary area for improvement, the district's ability to achieve strong outcomes despite economic disadvantage positions it well for continued success.