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Valley Head High School

Q: Is Valley Head High School a good school?

Valley Head High School ranks 338 th of 680 Alabama alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

338^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 680 Alabama Alternative Schools

Better than 50% of Alabama alternative schools

Summary

Valley Head High School is an alternative public school serving grades PK-12 in the small town of Valley Head, Alabama, which is part of the DeKalb County school district. With 492 students, the school has consistently high 4-year graduation rates, ranging from 88.2% to 96.9% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average of around 90%. However, the school also faces challenges, including higher-than-average dropout rates and chronic absenteeism rates.

Academically, Valley Head High School generally underperforms the state and county averages on standardized tests across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 11th grade math, only 8.57% of students were proficient or better, compared to 23.71% statewide. This may be partly due to the school's high percentage of students (over 67%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. Despite spending around $10,941 per student, which is higher than the state average, the school's academic outcomes do not seem to reflect this investment.

Compared to nearby schools in the DeKalb County district, such as Fyffe High School, Plainview School, Ider School, and Sylvania School, Valley Head High School generally performs worse on key metrics like test scores and graduation rates. This suggests the school may face unique challenges compared to its peers in the region.

517

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,941

Per pupil spending ?

70%

Free/discounted lunch ?

235 1st Ave
Valley Head, AL 35989-4119

(256) 635-6228

District: DeKalb County

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.5%

Hispanic:

25.0%

American Indian:

5.8%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Valley Head High School to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 79th percentile in 2022 → 14th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Alabama median (50th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alabama average (33% vs 44% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 65 percentile points since 2022

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school33%

District avg37%

Alabama avg44%

Elementary school

338^th of 680

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▲ up 25 pts since 2015

From bottom 25% (2015) to top 50% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

314^th of 439

Alabama public middle schools ?

Bottom 28%▼ down 19 pts since 2015

From bottom 47% (2015) to bottom 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

320^th of 374

Alabama public high schools ?

Bottom 14%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From bottom 22% (2015) to bottom 14% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 7Alternative Schools in the DeKalb County

78^th of 135DeKalb County among Alabama districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	52.4	338 of 680	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.0	425 of 684	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.8	462 of 680	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.7	442 of 687	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.7	346 of 692	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	28.5	497 of 681	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.3	506 of 680	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	25.1	530 of 688	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	35.8	464 of 691	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	29.2	515 of 691	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	27.9	533 of 695	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	41.7	506 of 696	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	38.4	521 of 696	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	44.4	488 of 709	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	42.8	494 of 704	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	31.8	552 of 696	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	36.2	513 of 698	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	40.4	478 of 698	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.6	315 of 689	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	63.3	223 of 688	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	61.6	224 of 623	64.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	62.7	237 of 649	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.1	367 of 650	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.4	435 of 645	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.5	414 of 656	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.8	314 of 656	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.5	422 of 646	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.2	471 of 640	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	34.8	436 of 639	31.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2019	19.0	133 of 152	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.0	127 of 140	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	19.2	120 of 130	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	53.4	298 of 660	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.3	407 of 670	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.9	389 of 623	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.9	356 of 651	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	62.4	218 of 653	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.7	459 of 649	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.2	467 of 651	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	44.3	376 of 651	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.0	431 of 655	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.0	428 of 649	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.7	433 of 669	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.2	363 of 669	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.1	518 of 650	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.0	502 of 650	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	34.8	434 of 639	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2024	42.3	31 of 59	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	59.3	18 of 57	68.4%	★★★★☆
2022	48.4	29 of 65	55.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	34.9	369 of 532	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.4	457 of 535	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.9	477 of 528	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	22.4	463 of 540	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.4	328 of 539	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	14.8	486 of 529	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.7	473 of 508	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	17.1	333 of 369	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	30.2	314 of 439	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.9	255 of 442	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.3	247 of 437	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.1	282 of 432	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.3	245 of 440	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.2	231 of 437	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.6	245 of 423	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	36.8	285 of 432	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	41.5	255 of 432	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.2	227 of 430	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	54.5	190 of 438	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	49.2	274 of 436	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.6	248 of 436	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	33.1	318 of 435	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	49.0	239 of 435	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	24.5	354 of 425	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	25.2	340 of 417	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	41.2	261 of 412	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	46.2	235 of 409	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	36.1	292 of 415	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	50.3	197 of 407	51.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	29.4	304 of 415	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.1	236 of 426	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.0	193 of 417	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	37.7	266 of 423	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.7	176 of 415	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.6	172 of 399	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.2	219 of 392	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.7	251 of 380	33.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2023	9.0	165 of 166	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.5	154 of 154	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	42.5	69 of 124	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	19.6	98 of 113	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.7	96 of 108	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	34.5	289 of 428	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.9	199 of 437	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.7	241 of 410	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.0	194 of 421	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.9	167 of 415	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.0	160 of 396	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.5	221 of 396	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	31.0	297 of 422	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.6	255 of 428	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.2	267 of 419	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.3	281 of 427	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.5	272 of 418	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.9	234 of 399	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.8	227 of 397	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	36.7	247 of 380	35.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	19.3	325 of 377	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.3	294 of 373	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.0	288 of 370	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.9	304 of 376	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.1	285 of 369	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.5	250 of 343	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.4	188 of 331	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	25.0	195 of 247	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	16.1	320 of 374	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.8	253 of 378	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.5	140 of 371	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.2	76 of 367	79.3%	★★★★☆
2021	65.6	100 of 371	73.0%	★★★★☆
2019	21.0	286 of 366	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.1	196 of 356	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	34.7	230 of 353	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	30.5	245 of 351	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	25.4	274 of 353	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	45.0	198 of 358	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.2	266 of 358	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	49.0	220 of 358	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	47.5	229 of 360	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	45.8	222 of 358	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2009	40.4	251 of 357	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	50.9	203 of 359	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	35.9	270 of 358	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	33.8	298 of 357	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	35.2	286 of 359	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	38.0	265 of 357	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	13.5	322 of 359	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	51.0	153 of 366	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.4	132 of 358	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	72.4	87 of 367	76.3%	★★★★☆
2021	57.4	135 of 359	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	14.6	301 of 354	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.3	200 of 347	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.4	171 of 343	50.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2023	38.6	65 of 122	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.2	63 of 113	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	12.6	95 of 103	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	33.8	63 of 95	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	25.0	67 of 93	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	29.6	256 of 367	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.6	174 of 375	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	91.0	28 of 361	92.2%	★★★★★
2021	55.3	140 of 361	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.6	215 of 358	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.1	123 of 349	64.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	23.6	273 of 363	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.7	272 of 368	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	48.4	162 of 358	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.3	86 of 366	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	69.3	87 of 366	76.2%	★★★★☆
2019	33.8	234 of 357	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.6	199 of 350	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	29.3	248 of 339	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	10.6	304 of 325	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.6	303 of 325	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	33.7	199 of 317	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	67.8	79 of 326	75.8%	★★★★☆
2021	38.5	186 of 319	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	5.7	299 of 313	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	28.3	216 of 300	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.2	189 of 230	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Female (2025)63rd percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)55th percentile+5 vs school

Native American (2024)47th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)42nd percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)31st percentile-20 vs school

Hispanic (2019)12th percentile-15 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)32nd percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)30th percentile~ school

Female (2025)27th percentile~ school

White (2025)14th percentile-15 vs school

Hispanic (2023)1st percentile-43 vs school

High school

Hispanic (2023)47th percentile-16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)30th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2025)25th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)10th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)6th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2024-2025) ?

English43%-13 vs state

Mathematics29%-4 vs state

Science21%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Valley Head High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2025)							Summative Assessment Science (2025)			Summative Assessment English (2025)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Valley Head High School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	235 1st Ave	Valley Head	35989	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 635-6228	517	35	14.7	70.0%	344 (66.5%)	3 (0.6%)	129 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.1%)								(n/a)	55.6	43.6	35.5	44.4	6.8	9.1	8.6	33.3	18.2	11.4	60.0	57.5	60.0	56.8	23.3	36.4	5.9	$10,941	$2,111	$8,814
Ider School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1064 Crabapple Ln	Ider	35981	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 632-2302	586	36	16.4	50.7%	429 (73.2%)	2 (0.3%)	23 (3.9%)	3 (0.5%)	107 (18.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.8%)								(n/a)	74.3	38.9	83.3	52.5	22.2	13.6	21.2	30.6	34.1	30.3	73.5	61.1	83.3	67.5	66.7	55.8	24.2	$11,527	$2,105	$9,406
Sylvania School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	133 2nd Street N	Sylvania	35988	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 638-2030	915	54	16.8	58.5%	578 (63.2%)	13 (1.4%)	155 (16.9%)	5 (0.5%)	146 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.0%)								(n/a)	31.3	42.9	31.3	19.6	19.4	17.3	19.2	49.2	28.9	24.7	62.7	54.0	68.7	38.0	54.2	44.2	12.9	$9,320	$1,259	$8,045
Plainview School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	76 Chavies Rd	Rainsville	35986	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 638-3510	1,167	74	15.7	53.0%	797 (68.3%)	5 (0.4%)	160 (13.7%)	6 (0.5%)	180 (15.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (1.6%)								(n/a)	54.3	46.8	63.8	60.5	34.1	27.6	29.1	40.3	57.5	37.2	86.0	75.3	81.3	67.4	77.4	70.5	27.7	$9,019	$1,264	$7,256
Dekalb Annex School	Public, Alternative	K-12	409 E Main St	Rainsville	35986	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	No	(256) 638-4131																			(n/a)
Pisgah High School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	60 Metcalf St	Pisgah	35765	Jackson County	Jackson County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 451-3241	598	32	18.6	50.7%	416 (69.6%)	4 (0.7%)	21 (3.5%)	5 (0.8%)	144 (24.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.3%)								(n/a)	33.3	39.0	32.4	50.0	25.0	14.9	17.2	56.1	34.0	20.3	58.3	63.4	68.4	72.5	52.3	68.1	27.9	$9,613	$1,269	$8,330
Fyffe High School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	153 Church St	Fyffe	35971	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 623-2116	954	57	16.6	49.2%	669 (70.1%)	8 (0.8%)	82 (8.6%)	4 (0.4%)	176 (18.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (1.6%)								(n/a)	64.1	41.8	55.7	34.9	16.4	39.7	26.6	67.2	58.6	38.0	84.4	70.2	81.7	66.7	52.1	74.1	21.1	$9,879	$1,235	$8,415
North Sand Mountain School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	29333 AL Highway 71	Higdon	35958	Jackson County	Jackson County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 597-2368	694	39	17.8	39.3%	530 (76.4%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	140 (20.2%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.7%)								(n/a)	61.9	52.4	38.5	58.3	45.8	17.2	26.9	45.2	19.0	34.9	83.3	59.5	71.8	81.3	76.3	58.6	22.4	$9,637	$1,371	$8,251

Frequently Asked Questions about Valley Head High School

What is the racial makeup of Valley Head High School?

Students at Valley Head High School are 67% White, 25% Hispanic, 6% American Indian, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Valley Head High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 517 students attended Valley Head High School.

What district is Valley Head High School in?

DeKalb County

Is Valley Head High School a good school?

Valley Head High School ranks 338^th of 680 Alabama alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Valley Head High School!

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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.