Summary:
Piedmont High School is the only high school in the Piedmont City district, serving grades 9-12 with 315 students in a small-town Alabama setting. This single school is a standout performer, consistently ranking in the top 10% of all Alabama high schools for three consecutive years—35th out of 380 in 2025-2026, 28th out of 374 in 2024-2025, and 31st out of 378 in 2023-2024.
Academically, Piedmont High excels well beyond state averages. In the 2025-2026 summative assessments, 59.21% of 11th graders scored proficient in math—more than double the state average of 27.21%—while English proficiency reached 50.67% versus 33.73% statewide, and science proficiency hit 40.79% compared to 36.17%. The school also boasts a 97.1% graduation rate, well above the state's 91.5%, and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.7% versus the state's 12.0%. These results are particularly impressive given that 56.51% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a demographic often associated with lower achievement. The school maintains a 17:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $11,384 per student.
Year-over-year trends show notable progress in English, which jumped from 44.93% to 50.67% proficiency, outpacing statewide gains. However, while math improved from 55.07% to 59.21%, science dipped from 44.93% to 40.79%, suggesting a possible shift in instructional focus. Historically, the school recorded a 0.0% dropout rate in 2016-2017 versus the state's 5.4%, indicating long-term success in student retention. For parents, Piedmont High offers a small, tight-knit environment with exceptional math instruction, strong graduation outcomes, and low absenteeism—a combination that makes it a top choice in Alabama despite economic challenges.
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