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Shades Valley High School

Q: Is Shades Valley High School a good school?

Shades Valley High School ranks 282 nd of 380 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

282^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 380 Alabama High Schools

Better than 26% of Alabama high schools

Summary

Shades Valley High School in Irondale, AL, serves approximately 1,094 students in grades 9-12 within the Jefferson County school district, with just over half of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

This school has a fascinating recent history. Just a few years ago, Shades Valley was a top performer in Alabama, earning 5-star ratings and ranking in the 92nd-93rd percentile statewide. Even as recently as the 2024-2025 school year, students were scoring nearly three times higher than the district average in math and about double in English. However, the most recent 2025-2026 data shows a dramatic drop in test scores, with math proficiency falling from 28.63% to 10.6% and the school's overall state ranking plummeting from the 68th percentile to the 26th. This is puzzling because the school's graduation rate remains a bright spot—consistently hovering around 92-94%, which beats both the district and state averages. The school also shows relative strength for its English Language Learners and Special Education students in the latest data. One area of concern is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 23.5%—nearly double the state average of 12%.

When compared to nearby schools, the picture is mixed. The contrast with Mountain Brook High School just 4 miles away is stark—Mountain Brook ranks 3rd in the state with 87% math proficiency and spends nearly double per student ($16,839 vs. $9,072). However, Shades Valley outperforms other Jefferson County schools like Fultondale High School and Center Point High School. Interestingly, Ramsay High School in the Birmingham City district has shown that schools with similar demographics can achieve excellence, ranking 40th in the state with a 100% graduation rate. The big question for Shades Valley is whether the latest test scores are a temporary blip or the start of a new trend—but the school's strong graduation rates and history of past success offer reasons for cautious optimism.

1,094

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,072

Per pupil spending ?

54.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6100 Old Leeds Rd
Irondale, AL 35210

(205) 379-5350

District: Jefferson County

Feeder schools for Shades Valley High School:

Elementary:	Grantswood Community School
	Irondale Community School
Middle:	Irondale Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

52.1%

Hispanic:

25.6%

White:

18.3%

See top rated Alabama high schools

Compare Shades Valley High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 92nd percentile in 2016 → 26th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alabama average (17% vs 32% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (24% vs 12% Alabama)

!Ranking has slipped — down 66 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school17%

District avg20%

Alabama avg32%

282^nd of 380

Alabama public high schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 66 pts since 2016

From top 8% (2016) to bottom 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 13High Schools in the Jefferson County

101^st of 139Jefferson 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	25.8	282 of 380	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	62.9	119 of 374	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.9	85 of 378	77.5%	★★★★☆
2023	80.1	59 of 371	84.1%	★★★★☆
2022	69.2	90 of 367	75.5%	★★★★☆
2021	80.0	57 of 371	84.6%	★★★★☆
2019	76.7	71 of 366	80.6%	★★★★☆
2018	75.7	82 of 356	77.0%	★★★★☆
2017	91.3	25 of 353	92.9%	★★★★★
2016	88.7	28 of 351	92.0%	★★★★★
2015	85.1	36 of 353	89.8%	★★★★★
2014	82.6	44 of 358	87.7%	★★★★☆
2013	54.8	190 of 358	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	44.5	245 of 358	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	53.2	192 of 360	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	62.5	131 of 358	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.1	93 of 357	73.9%	★★★★☆
2008	69.1	79 of 359	78.0%	★★★★☆
2007	68.0	109 of 358	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	72.9	50 of 357	86.0%	★★★★☆
2005	80.2	30 of 359	91.6%	★★★★★
2004	81.2	29 of 357	91.9%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	44.6	113 of 234	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	82.7	19 of 228	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	83.6	27 of 231	88.3%	★★★★☆
2023	81.2	24 of 224	89.3%	★★★★☆
2022	78.9	32 of 222	85.6%	★★★★☆
2021	87.4	21 of 228	90.8%	★★★★★
2019	94.6	10 of 224	95.5%	★★★★★
2018	88.1	17 of 223	92.4%	★★★★★
2017	95.6	6 of 189	96.8%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	55.1	25 of 89	71.9%	★★★★☆
2025	35.4	46 of 75	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.3	48 of 63	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.1	23 of 43	46.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.9	37 of 39	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.7	20 of 28	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.5	16 of 22	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	32.0	259 of 372	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	67.5	105 of 359	70.8%	★★★★☆
2024	65.2	106 of 366	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	75.3	76 of 358	78.8%	★★★★☆
2022	61.1	126 of 367	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	78.6	56 of 359	84.4%	★★★★☆
2019	73.3	84 of 354	76.3%	★★★★☆
2018	74.9	75 of 347	78.4%	★★★★☆
2017	92.9	20 of 343	94.2%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	24.7	55 of 69	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.8	111 of 142	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.9	68 of 139	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.0	53 of 122	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.8	61 of 114	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.2	66 of 113	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.6	46 of 103	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.0	37 of 95	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	74.2	21 of 93	77.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	30.3	277 of 377	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	49.1	155 of 367	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.0	146 of 375	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.9	91 of 349	73.9%	★★★★☆
2022	58.2	117 of 361	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	78.3	51 of 361	85.9%	★★★★☆
2019	75.6	65 of 358	81.8%	★★★★☆
2018	63.3	117 of 349	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	78.3	39 of 315	87.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	21.0	294 of 375	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	54.8	151 of 363	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.8	91 of 368	75.3%	★★★★☆
2023	80.5	54 of 358	84.9%	★★★★☆
2022	75.1	71 of 366	80.6%	★★★★☆
2021	76.9	64 of 366	82.5%	★★★★☆
2019	76.3	70 of 357	80.4%	★★★★☆
2018	71.5	83 of 350	76.3%	★★★★☆
2017	81.2	45 of 339	86.7%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	37.2	72 of 122	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.6	40 of 66	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	12.1	51 of 56	8.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2021	17.7	36 of 40	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	49.5	74 of 197	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.2	87 of 194	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.1	86 of 198	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	30.1	125 of 182	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	15.2	148 of 169	12.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.4	150 of 196	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	55.5	60 of 171	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.9	70 of 160	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.3	22 of 83	73.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	47.5	155 of 316	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.5	88 of 325	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	79.7	54 of 325	83.4%	★★★★☆
2023	91.6	27 of 317	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	86.7	31 of 326	90.5%	★★★★★
2021	96.3	18 of 319	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	81.4	51 of 313	83.7%	★★★★☆
2018	97.8	10 of 300	96.7%	★★★★★
2017	99.6	2 of 230	99.1%	★★★★★

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)

English Language Learner (2026)72nd percentile+46 vs school

Special Education (2026)62nd percentile+37 vs school

African American (2026)52nd percentile+26 vs school

White (2026)51st percentile+25 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)41st percentile+15 vs school

Female (2026)30th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)27th percentile~ school

Male (2026)22nd percentile-4 vs school

Hispanic (2026)20th percentile-5 vs school

Native American (2021)10th percentile-75 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

Science26%-10 vs state

English14%-20 vs state

Mathematics11%-17 vs state

3.3

3 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Great diversity. The teachers seek to educate the children even when the coursework is difficult. Close Quote

Schools Near Shades Valley High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2026)			Summative Assessment Science (2026)		Summative Assessment English (2026)			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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th 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
Shades Valley High School	Public	9-12	6100 Old Leeds Rd	Irondale	35210	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	No	(205) 379-5350	1,094	65	16.8	54.7%	200 (18.3%)	570 (52.1%)	280 (25.6%)	8 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (3.2%)	25.8	282^nd of 380 public high schools	25.8%		62.9	119^th of 374 public high schools	68.2%	163			10.6		26.5			14.0	$9,072	$539	$8,510
Mountain Brook High School	Public	10-12	3650 Bethune Dr	Mountain Brook	35223	Jefferson County	Mountain Brook City	No	No	No	No	(205) 414-3800	985	98	10.1	2.8%	908 (92.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (2.2%)	12 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (4.4%)	99.9	3^rd of 380 public high schools	99.2%		99.9	2^nd of 374 public high schools	99.5%	1			87.5		83.3			78.2	$16,839	$115	$16,723
Woodlawn High SchoolMagnet	Public, Magnet	9-12	5620 First Ave N	Birmingham	35212	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	Yes	No	Yes	(205) 231-8000	750	32	23.4	83.7%	12 (1.6%)	624 (83.2%)	106 (14.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.1%)	8.7	364^th of 380 public high schools	4.2%		12.9	344^th of 374 public high schools	8.0%	20			2.5		4.4			9.5	$12,324	$1,430	$10,891
Huffman High SchoolMagnet	Public, Magnet	9-12	900 Springville Rd	Birmingham	35215	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	Yes	No	Yes	(205) 231-5000	1,094	59	18.5	79.8%	12 (1.1%)	950 (86.8%)	111 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (1.8%)	19.2	314^th of 380 public high schools	17.4%		14.5	330^th of 374 public high schools	11.8%	16			19.3		7.1			7.5	$12,100	$1,892	$10,205
Leeds High School	Public	9-12	1500 Greenwave Drive	Leeds	35094	Jefferson County	Leeds City	No	No	No	No	(205) 699-4510	624	36	17.3	46.8%	362 (58.0%)	139 (22.3%)	112 (17.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.4%)	63.4	111^th of 380 public high schools	70.8%		64.2	112^th of 374 public high schools	70.1%	1			27.9		40.9			30.9	$11,264	$1,025	$10,239
Dupuy Alternative School	Public	9-12	4500 14th Ave N	Birmingham	35212	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	No	(205) 231-3250																			(n/a)
Tarrant High School	Public	7-12	91 Black Creek Road	Tarrant	35217	Jefferson County	Tarrant City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 849-0172	597	37	16.1	78.7%	14 (2.3%)	305 (51.1%)	251 (42.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.2%)	3 (0.5%)	10 (1.7%)	9.6	360^th of 380 public high schools	5.3%		11.4	355^th of 374 public high schools	5.1%	5	1.4	2.4	1.7	14.3	11.9	26.4	27.4	7.0	$11,985	$2,197	$9,781
Ramsay High School	Public	9-12	1800 13th Ave S	Birmingham	35205	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 231-7000	762	46	16.5	50.7%	6 (0.8%)	720 (94.5%)	21 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (1.8%)	85	40^th of 380 public high schools	89.5%		94.7	17^th of 374 public high schools	95.5%	23			39.0		43.4			52.8	$11,746	$1,049	$10,695
Center Point High School	Public	9-12	1000 Eagle Drive	Center Point	35215	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 379-3400	685	46	14.8	80.7%	7 (1.0%)	612 (89.3%)	55 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.6%)	7.9	369^th of 380 public high schools	2.9%		10.1	363^rd of 374 public high schools	2.9%	6			3.0		7.9			3.7	$12,293	$1,996	$10,274
Homebound High School	Public	7-12	2015 Park Place N	Birmingham	35203	Jefferson County	Birmingham City	No	No	No	No	(205) 231-4777																			(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Shades Valley High School

What district is Shades Valley High School in?

Jefferson County

Is Shades Valley High School a good school?

Shades Valley High School ranks 282^nd of 380 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Shades Valley High School?

Students at Shades Valley High School are 52% African American, 26% Hispanic, 18% White, 3% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Shades Valley High School?

Shades Valley High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Grantswood Community School
Elementary : Irondale Community School
Middle : Irondale Middle School

How many students attend Shades Valley High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,094 students attended Shades Valley High School.

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresNewAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

2021–22 through 2023–24 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 2, 2024

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.