Best High Schools in Zip Code 35126

Zip code 35126 in Pinson, Alabama, is home to two public high schools—Clay-Chalkville High School and Pinson Valley High School—both serving grades 9 through 12 under the Jefferson County school district.

For parents comparing the two schools, the most striking difference is graduation rates: Pinson Valley graduates 90.8% of its students, matching the district average and far exceeding Clay-Chalkville’s 85.5%. This gap is notable because Clay-Chalkville actually posts higher math proficiency (12.9% vs. 8.15%), suggesting Pinson Valley may have stronger support systems like credit recovery or counseling. Both schools struggle with chronic absenteeism—around 30% of students miss significant school time, which is roughly 2.5 times the state average of 12%—and this likely drags down overall performance. In terms of academics, neither school ranks well, sitting in the bottom 15% of Alabama high schools (Clay-Chalkville at 328th and Pinson Valley at 330th out of 380). However, there is a positive trend: both schools showed dramatic year-over-year test score improvements, with Clay-Chalkville’s math proficiency jumping 412% and Pinson Valley’s science proficiency rising 54%, though scores remain well below state averages.

Economically, both schools serve predominantly low-income communities, with about two-thirds of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Pinson Valley spends $682 more per student ($9,579 vs. $8,897), which may help explain its stronger graduation rate and better science and English scores. Science is a relative strength for both schools, with Pinson Valley’s 16.74% proficiency doubling its math score. Despite the academic gains, rankings have stayed stable, indicating other schools are improving too. For parents, the key takeaway is that Pinson Valley offers better student persistence and graduation outcomes, while Clay-Chalkville, despite its larger size (1,377 students vs. 1,025), shows stronger math performance but needs to address its lower graduation rate and high absenteeism.