McAdory High School

McAdory High School in Mc Calla, AL, is a large public high school serving 1,259 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Jefferson County school district.

McAdory currently holds a 1-star rating, ranking in the bottom quarter of Alabama high schools. However, the school sits in the middle of a highly polarized educational landscape. Its proficiency rates in Math (9.66%), Science (24.48%), and English (14.79%) are notably higher than nearby struggling schools like Bessemer City High School and Midfield High School, yet dramatically lower than high-achieving neighbors such as Hoover High School and Helena High School. The most pressing concern is chronic absenteeism, which spiked to 31.6%—nearly double the district average and almost triple the state average. This is a significant jump from the school's own 15.7% rate just two years earlier, and it far exceeds the rates at Hoover (9.8%) and Helena (14.6%).

Despite these challenges, there are bright spots. The 2024-2025 school year was a clear low point, with proficiency rates in Math and English falling to alarmingly low levels. The rebound in 2025-2026 shows meaningful improvement, though scores remain below state averages. Notably, the school has shown remarkable recent success with its African American and Hispanic student subgroups, with rankings jumping to the 57th and 54th percentiles respectively—a massive improvement from the previous year and a sign that targeted interventions may be working. The school also faces economic challenges, with over half of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and per-student spending ($8,839) is lower than at Hoover ($11,758). While McAdory's overall performance remains modest, its recent subgroup gains and academic rebound suggest a school working to find its footing in a challenging environment.