Tuscaloosa County

The Tuscaloosa County school district in Alabama serves approximately 16,500 students across 35 schools, including 19 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 6 high schools, and 1 alternative education center, spanning grades PK-12 in a mix of suburban and rural communities.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that school quality varies dramatically depending on where you live. The standout performer is Northside High School, ranked 29th in the state with a 98.8% graduation rate and test scores more than double the district average in math, science, and English. At the elementary level, Westwood Elementary School and FaucettVestavia Elementary School both rank in the 86th percentile statewide, with Westwood posting 68% math proficiency and 87.8% English proficiency in 3rd grade. On the other end, Holt Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6% with just 7.5% math proficiency, and Holt High School ranks in the bottom 16% with only 9.4% math proficiency. The Northport/Northside cluster—including Northport Elementary School, Northport Intermediate School, and Northside Middle School—consistently outperforms the rest of the district, while the Holt/Cottondale area schools face the greatest challenges.

District-wide, graduation rates are strong (92.4% average, with all six traditional high schools exceeding the state average), but middle school math is a serious weakness—only 2 of 9 middle schools exceed 25% proficiency, with DavisEmerson Middle School at just 8.9%. Chronic absenteeism is also a secondary-level concern, with Tuscaloosa County High School at 20.1% and Hillcrest High School at 19.1%. Notably, higher spending doesn't guarantee better results—Holt High School spends $17,319 per student (the highest among traditional schools) yet has the lowest test scores, while Huntington Place Elementary School spends just $7,650 and ranks in the 80th percentile. The district's most encouraging story is Northside High School's dramatic two-year improvement from 186th to 29th in the state, proving that rapid turnaround is possible with the right leadership and interventions.