Beta You're viewing our redesigned school list. Prefer the classic layout?

Huntsville City


At a glance
78thof 140 Alabama districts▲ 1
Better than 44% of Alabama districts
2601 North Memorial Parkway
Huntsville, AL 35810
·(256) 428-6812·All Alabama district rankings →
Statewide performance 2018–2026
2026: better than 44.3% of districts
45
Schools
24,055
Students
9
5-star schools
Top rankedNew Century Technology High School3rd of 386 Alabama high schools
▲
Biggest riser
Jemison High School up 67 spots statewide this year
◉
Smallest classes
New Century Technology High School 13.5 students per teacher
SchoolDigger ratings
5★
4★
3★
2★
1★
0★
3 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The Huntsville City school district serves 44 schools in Alabama, including 26 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 6 high schools, and 1 virtual academy, with enrollment ranging from 167 to 1,847 students per school. This district presents a striking tale of two systems: a cluster of elite magnet and affluent neighborhood schools that rank among the best in Alabama, alongside a group of high-poverty schools struggling in the bottom 5% statewide. The district overall sits at the 45th percentile of Alabama districts, but this average masks extreme bifurcation between its standout performers and its schools requiring significant support.

For parents, the standout options are clear. New Century Technology High School is the crown jewel, ranking 2nd in the state with a 100% graduation rate, 75% math proficiency, and a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio—the best among district high schools. Huntsville High School leads traditional high schools at 18th in the state, while Hampton Cove Middle School (7th in state) and Monte Sano Elementary School (20th in state) anchor the top of their levels. The Hampton Cove area forms a geographic cluster of excellence, with Hampton Cove Elementary and GoldsmithSchiffman Elementary all ranking in the top 10% of their school types. At the other end, Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School ranks 682nd out of 686 elementary schools with just 1.61% math proficiency, while McDonnell Elementary and Sonnie Hereford Elementary also sit in the bottom 5% statewide.

Several patterns matter for families. First, spending does not predict success—Montview Elementary spends the most per student ($13,217) but ranks 541st, while Hampton Cove Middle spends the least ($6,081) and ranks 7th. Second, the middle school transition is a critical drop-off point: Chapman Elementary (35th percentile) feeds into Chapman Middle (12th percentile), a significant decline. Third, English proficiency consistently exceeds math by 15-30 points district-wide, suggesting math intervention is needed. Chronic absenteeism varies widely, from 1.2% at Montview to 16% at Sonnie Hereford. Finally, Artemis Virtual Academy shows promise with 91.67% English proficiency and 0% absenteeism, though its 67.6:1 student-teacher ratio reflects its virtual format.

AllElementaryMiddleHighAlternative
Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private




Districts nearby

See the top AL Alabama districts
SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

Diagnostics