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Calera High

Q: Is Calera High a good school?

Calera High ranks 211 th of 386 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

211^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 386 Alabama High Schools

Better than 45% of Alabama high schools

Summary

Calera High is a public high school in Calera, AL, serving 1,018 students in grades 9-12 as part of the highly-rated Shelby County district, where over half of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

Calera High presents a mixed picture for parents to consider. On one hand, overall academic proficiency on the 11th-grade assessments is below both state and district averages—for example, only about 18% of students are proficient in math, compared to 51% at nearby Chelsea High School and 46% at Helena High School. The school's state ranking has declined from a peak of 35th in 2015-2016 to 210th currently. However, the school shows remarkable strength in supporting specific student groups: it ranks 15th in the state for special education students and 10th for English language learners—both top-tier performances that rival the best schools in Alabama. This suggests that while the general student body may struggle with test scores, the school has highly effective, targeted support systems in place for its most vulnerable learners.

Chronic absenteeism has been a concern, spiking to 26.8% in 2023-2024 (nearly double the district average) before improving dramatically to 11.8% in 2024-2025. On a positive note, Calera's graduation rate of 94.6% is notably higher than Montevallo High School's 88.3% and slightly above Shelby County High School's 92.3%, even though test scores are similar across these schools. The school also operates efficiently, spending less per student ($9,178) than many neighbors like Thompson High School ($12,268) while still achieving strong graduation outcomes. For parents, Calera High offers a school that excels at supporting students with special needs and language barriers, though overall academic performance lags behind some nearby options.

1,018

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,178

Per pupil spending ?

56.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

100 Calera Eagle Drive
Calera, AL 35040

(205) 682-5956

District: Shelby County

Feeder schools for Calera High:

Elementary:	Calera Elementary
	Calera Intermediate School
Middle:	Calera Middle

Racial breakdown:

African American:

44.3%

White:

38.9%

Hispanic:

13.0%

See top rated Alabama high schools

Compare Calera High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2016 → 45th in 2026

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Alabama average (92%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alabama average (25% vs 32% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 45 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school25%

District avg46%

Alabama avg32%

211^th of 386

Alabama public high schools ?

Bottom 45%▼ down 45 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 7High Schools in the Shelby County

29^th of 140Shelby 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	42.8	211 of 386	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.7	196 of 374	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.0	137 of 378	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.6	184 of 371	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.3	175 of 367	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.1	186 of 371	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.3	192 of 366	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	67.7	112 of 356	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	63.2	105 of 353	70.3%	★★★★☆
2016	84.7	35 of 351	90.0%	★★★★★
2015	70.0	77 of 353	78.2%	★★★★☆
2014	65.6	102 of 358	71.5%	★★★★☆
2013	62.5	108 of 358	69.8%	★★★★☆
2012	62.9	132 of 358	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	49.6	219 of 360	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.9	176 of 358	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	67.0	90 of 357	74.8%	★★★★☆
2008	57.7	159 of 359	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.5	159 of 358	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	57.8	159 of 357	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	46.3	223 of 359	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2004	58.3	153 of 357	57.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	45.3	108 of 238	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.7	85 of 228	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.3	55 of 231	76.2%	★★★★☆
2023	53.8	72 of 224	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.8	74 of 222	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.0	43 of 228	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	39.2	129 of 224	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	78.5	29 of 223	87.0%	★★★★☆
2017	64.1	36 of 189	81.0%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	73.0	10 of 90	88.9%	★★★★☆
2025	74.9	11 of 75	85.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	42.7	209 of 377	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.4	196 of 359	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.6	157 of 366	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.7	193 of 358	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.4	150 of 367	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.2	206 of 359	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.1	179 of 354	49.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.6	96 of 347	72.3%	★★★★☆
2017	56.0	121 of 343	64.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	23.1	112 of 142	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.1	76 of 139	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.0	97 of 122	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	55.0	44 of 114	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.2	58 of 113	48.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.4	50 of 103	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.7	50 of 95	47.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	84.0	15 of 93	83.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	45.9	190 of 383	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.4	211 of 367	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.0	156 of 375	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.6	152 of 349	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.4	175 of 361	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.5	180 of 361	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.8	173 of 358	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.1	96 of 349	72.5%	★★★★☆
2017	64.3	73 of 315	76.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	41.8	215 of 380	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.7	188 of 363	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.3	126 of 368	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.3	182 of 358	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.4	193 of 366	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.2	164 of 366	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.1	186 of 357	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.8	142 of 350	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	66.7	85 of 339	74.9%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2024	18.8	21 of 24	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	8.5	26 of 27	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	59.5	11 of 25	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.2	11 of 18	38.9%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	33.0	79 of 123	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.2	55 of 66	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	23.8	46 of 57	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.9	23 of 35	34.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	86.3	15 of 197	92.4%	★★★★★
2025	57.2	63 of 194	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.4	65 of 198	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	28.4	131 of 182	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	45.9	78 of 169	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.6	162 of 196	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.8	77 of 171	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.8	35 of 160	78.1%	★★★★☆
2017	19.2	76 of 83	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	57.9	117 of 320	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.0	121 of 325	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.5	85 of 325	73.8%	★★★★☆
2023	45.2	152 of 317	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.1	126 of 326	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.3	177 of 319	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.7	83 of 313	73.5%	★★★★☆
2018	73.5	64 of 300	78.7%	★★★★☆
2017	63.8	64 of 230	72.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Special Education (2026)92nd percentile+47 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)89th percentile+44 vs school

White (2026)63rd percentile+18 vs school

African American (2026)55th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)50th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)45th percentile~ school

Male (2026)43rd percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)36th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)21st percentile-26 vs school

Native American (2025)19th percentile-28 vs school

Military Connected (2024)12th percentile-51 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

Science32%-4 vs state

English24%-9 vs state

Mathematics18%-10 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, March 8, 2012

I have had no issues academically. I do have issues with the administration. From first hand knowledge, administration has discriminatory, racist policies. These policies relate to athletics where there is a rule that no player can have dred locks, twists, braids, Mohawks, or lines in their hair. When I spoke with Robert Burdette, the athletic director about the " no dred locks, braids, or twists" I was told that this policy was in effect because " the places that he has gone and kids have had these hair styles,those kids didnt seem as though they would represent Calera well." Really, in 2012, we are still fighting this type of prejudice for our kids to have the "privilege of playing sports"? They can go to the schools. They can help the test scores of the schools by making exemplary grades. But they can't go outside the school and represent the school because they don't deserve that "privilege" because thei hair style doesn't meet your approval. Close Quote

Schools Near Calera High

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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 (2025)	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 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Calera High	Public	9-12	100 Calera Eagle Drive	Calera	35040	Shelby County	Shelby County	No	No	No	No	(205) 682-5956	1,018	57	17.8	56.9%	396 (38.9%)	451 (44.3%)	132 (13.0%)	11 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (2.8%)	42.8	211^th of 386 public high schools	45.3%		43.7	196^th of 374 public high schools	47.6%	15	17.7	31.9	24.5	$9,178	$947	$8,212
Montevallo High School	Public	9-12	980 Oak St	Montevallo	35115	Shelby County	Shelby County	No	No	No	No	(205) 682-6400	485	35	13.8	77.7%	195 (40.2%)	110 (22.7%)	168 (34.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	50.2	177^th of 386 public high schools	54.1%		39.6	212^th of 374 public high schools	43.3%	35	22.2	35.0	25.7	$12,913	$952	$11,940
Jemison High School	Public	9-12	25195 US Highway 31	Jemison	35085	Chilton County	Chilton County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 280-4860	702	32	21.8	67.4%	294 (41.9%)	47 (6.7%)	335 (47.7%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.1%)	41.1	223^rd of 386 public high schools	42.2%		40.3	208^th of 374 public high schools	44.4%	15	15.2	31.1	25.5	$9,182	$1,660	$7,496
Career Technical Education Center	Public	9-12	701 Highway 70	Columbiana	35051	Shelby County	Shelby County	No	No	No	No	(205) 682-6650	0	11	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
New Direction	Public	6-12	701 Hwy 70	Columbiana	35007	Shelby County	Shelby County	No	No	No	No	(205) 682-5910	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
SUCCESS Program	Public	9-12	701 Highway 70	Columbiana	35051	Shelby County	Shelby County	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(205) 682-6650	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Thompson High School	Public	9-12	1921 Warrior Parkway	Alabaster	35007	Shelby County	Alabaster City	No	No	No	No	(205) 685-6700	2,060	128	16.1	49.9%	992 (48.2%)	522 (25.3%)	471 (22.9%)	24 (1.2%)	12 (0.6%)	2 (0.1%)	37 (1.8%)	82.1	55^th of 386 public high schools	85.8%		78.4	71^st of 374 public high schools	81.0%	16	37.3	54.0	37.9	$12,268	$891	$11,363
Shelby County High School	Public	9-12	101 Washington St	Columbiana	35051	Shelby County	Shelby County	No	No	No	No	(205) 682-6600	572	41	14.1	57.0%	417 (72.9%)	73 (12.8%)	67 (11.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.4%)	60.1	128^th of 386 public high schools	66.8%		68.3	100^th of 374 public high schools	73.3%	28	18.7	43.9	33.6	$11,966	$1,110	$10,834
Helena High School	Public	9-12	1310 Hillsboro Parkway	Helena	35080	Shelby County	Shelby County	No	No	No	No	(205) 682-3650	1,383	79	17.6	26.4%	961 (69.5%)	228 (16.5%)	127 (9.2%)	24 (1.7%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	37 (2.7%)	93.4	22^nd of 386 public high schools	94.3%		85.5	49^th of 374 public high schools	86.9%	27	46.3	57.3	51.7	$8,579	$631	$7,932
Pelham High School	Public	9-12	2500 Panther Cir	Pelham	35124	Shelby County	Pelham City	No	No	No	No	(205) 624-3701	1,076	73	14.8	43.2%	469 (43.6%)	212 (19.7%)	320 (29.7%)	30 (2.8%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	40 (3.7%)	80.4	60^th of 386 public high schools	84.5%		76	82^nd of 374 public high schools	78.1%	22	39.9	42.8	41.7	$11,406	$899	$10,506

Frequently Asked Questions about Calera High

What is the racial makeup of Calera High?

Students at Calera High are 44% African American, 39% White, 13% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into Calera High?

Calera High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Calera Elementary
Elementary : Calera Intermediate School
Middle : Calera Middle

Is Calera High a good school?

Calera High ranks 211^th of 386 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Calera High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,018 students attended Calera High.

What district is Calera High in?

Shelby County

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresAug 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.