Best High Schools in Zip Code 35020

Zip code 35020, encompassing the Bessemer, Alabama area, is served by a single high school, Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School, which is part of the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation district and serves grades 9 through 12.

For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that it offers a unique, specialized career-themed education in aerospace and aviation, but its academic results are mixed. The school is very small, with just 161 students, which can create a more personalized environment, though the student-teacher ratio of 20.1:1 is on the higher side. The school's strongest area is English, where 34.88% of 11th graders are proficient, slightly above the state average of 33.73%. However, this strength does not carry over to STEM subjects. In mathematics, only 11.63% of students are proficient compared to the state average of 27.21%, and in science, just 16.28% are proficient versus the state's 36.17%. This is particularly notable for a school focused on aerospace, a field that relies heavily on advanced math and physics.

There are two critical areas of concern. First, science proficiency dropped dramatically from 28.3% to 16.28% in just one year, a decline that warrants immediate attention. Second, chronic absenteeism is a major issue, with 31.1% of students missing significant school days—more than double the state average of 12.0%. This, combined with the fact that 61.49% of students are economically disadvantaged, suggests that many students face external challenges that can impact learning. While the school ranks in the 33rd percentile statewide (253 out of 380), its small size means that the performance of just a few students can heavily influence its overall scores. Ultimately, this school may be a good fit for a student with a strong interest in aviation and literacy, but families should be aware of the significant gaps in math and science achievement and the high absenteeism rate.