Pell City

The Pell City school district in Alabama serves 3,981 students across 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools (grades K-4), 2 middle schools (grades 4-8), and 1 high school (grades 9-12), with the district earning a 4-star rating and ranking 38th out of 139 districts statewide.

For parents, the standout school is Coosa Valley Elementary School, which ranks in the top 100 elementary schools in Alabama (86th percentile) and boasts exceptional results: 85% proficiency in 3rd grade English, 73% in 4th grade science, and a remarkably low 1.4% chronic absenteeism rate. Walter M Kennedy School is the most improved, jumping from the 55th to 81st percentile in two years, with 67% proficiency in 3rd grade math. Iola Roberts Elementary School also performs well, particularly in science (72% proficiency). At the other end, Eden Elementary School struggles most, with the highest poverty rate (78% free/reduced lunch) and lower test scores, though it has improved significantly from the 33rd to 65th percentile. All four elementary schools exceed state averages in nearly every subject, which is impressive given that 57-78% of their students face economic disadvantage.

The district's biggest challenge is the dramatic "middle school cliff." While 3rd graders average 58% math proficiency, proficiency plummets to just 19.5% in 7th grade and 16.3% in 8th grade at Duran Junior High School. Williams Intermediate School shows a similar pattern, with 5th grade math at 24% dropping to 34% in 6th grade. Pell City High School is the district's weakest link despite having the lowest poverty rate and highest per-student spending ($9,837). It has the highest chronic absenteeism (13.5%), English proficiency below state average (27.2% vs. 33.7%), and a graduation rate of 89.7% that trails the state's 91.5%. Science is a consistent strength across all grade levels, and the district shows encouraging upward momentum, with most schools improving their rankings in recent years.