Summary:
The 13 high schools located in Jefferson County, Alabama serve grades 9-12, with a few exceptions that include additional grade levels. The schools vary in size, with student populations ranging from 519 to 1,388. While the schools share a consistent 90.0% four-year graduation rate and 14.8% chronic absenteeism rate, their academic performance and other key metrics differ significantly.
Among the standout schools are Shades Valley High School and Mortimer Jordan High School, which rank among the top 119 and 113 high schools in the state, respectively, and are rated 3-4 stars by SchoolDigger. These schools have significantly higher proficiency rates in math, science, and English compared to the county and state averages. Similarly, Gardendale High School and Corner High School also perform better than the county and state averages, with rankings in the top 187 and 84 high schools in the state, respectively.
In contrast, some schools in the district, such as ClayChalkville High School, McAdory High School, and Center Point High School, struggle to reach even half the county and state averages in academic proficiency. This stark difference in performance suggests a potential correlation between socioeconomic factors, such as the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, and academic achievement. Additionally, the significant variation in spending per student, from $8,484 to $12,293, may also contribute to the performance gaps between the schools.
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