Summary:
Zip code 35124 in Pelham, Alabama, is served by a single public high school, Pelham High School, which enrolls 1,076 students in grades 9-12 within the Pelham City district.
Pelham High School stands out as a high-performing institution, consistently ranking in the top quartile of Alabama high schools—reaching 59th out of 380 schools (84th percentile) in the 2025-2026 school year. The school's graduation rate is an impressive 95.8%, well above the state average of 91.5%, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 11.1% is slightly better than the state's 12.0%. Academically, the school outperforms state averages in every subject on the 11th-grade summative assessments: mathematics proficiency is 39.92% versus 27.21% statewide, science is 42.80% versus 36.17%, and English is 41.74% versus 33.73%. The most remarkable trend is a dramatic 12.91 percentage point jump in math proficiency from 27.01% to 39.92% year-over-year, suggesting highly effective curriculum changes or targeted interventions. Science and English also improved, by 1.92 and 3.45 points respectively, showing consistent upward momentum across all subjects.
With a student-teacher ratio of 14.8:1 and per-student spending of $11,406, the school demonstrates efficient resource use while serving a economically diverse population—43.2% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. As the sole high school in the Pelham City district, its strong performance directly drives the district's 42nd-place ranking out of 139 Alabama districts (70th percentile, 4 stars). While the school's absolute rank has fluctuated between 59 and 82 over three years, its percentile standing has remained stable in the 78-84th range, indicating a competitive upper tier where small changes shift rankings. For families in this area, Pelham High School offers a compelling combination of above-average academics, strong graduation outcomes, and a clear commitment to continuous improvement.
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