Hueytown High School

Hueytown High School in Hueytown, AL, serves approximately 1,200 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Jefferson County school district, and is showing a clear upward trajectory despite serving a predominantly low-income community where 66% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most remarkable story at Hueytown is its exceptional work with special education students, ranking in the top 10% statewide for two consecutive years and maintaining a 4-star rating in the most recent year. The school also demonstrates strong outcomes for African American students, improving from the 39th percentile to the 63rd percentile over two years. Male students have seen dramatic gains, doubling their percentile ranking from 21st to 44th in just two years. Math proficiency among 11th graders has quadrupled from 4% to nearly 17% in the same period—the fastest improvement among all nearby schools. The graduation rate has climbed steadily from 80% to 89.9%, now nearly matching the state average. English Language Learner students also perform above average, ranking in the 56th percentile.

Compared to nearby schools, Hueytown outperforms McAdory High School and Pleasant Grove High School in overall ranking, and substantially outperforms Fairfield High Preparatory School, Midfield High School, and Bessemer City High School in test scores and graduation rates—all while spending less per student than most of these schools. The primary challenges remain chronic absenteeism (29.5%, more than double the state rate) and a significant gap in female student achievement (19th percentile). However, the school's consistent improvement across multiple metrics suggests effective, targeted strategies are working.