Summary:
Zip code 35205 in Birmingham, Alabama, is served by a single public high school, Ramsay High School, which enrolls 762 students in grades 9-12 and operates within the Birmingham City School District.
For parents in this area, Ramsay High School is the only option, and it stands out as a strong academic performer despite being part of a district that ranks in the bottom 14% of Alabama. The school consistently exceeds both district and state averages in math, science, and English, with proficiency rates roughly three times higher than the district average. In the most recent testing year, Ramsay posted a 39% proficiency rate in math, 43% in science, and 53% in English, all above state benchmarks. The school also achieved a perfect 100% graduation rate, far surpassing the district's 80.9% and the state's 91.5%. However, there are warning signs: English proficiency dropped sharply by 16 percentage points year-over-year, and chronic absenteeism sits at 15.9%, higher than both district and state averages. The student body is majority low-income, with 50.66% qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and the student-teacher ratio is 16.5:1.
The school's state ranking has been volatile, swinging from 71st to 17th to 40th over three years, which suggests performance can fluctuate significantly. While the perfect graduation rate is impressive, the high chronic absenteeism rate hints at potential engagement challenges that the school may be addressing through credit recovery programs. With no other high school in the zip code, Ramsay's continued success is critical for the community, but the recent declines in test scores—especially in English—warrant close attention from parents. The most recent per-student spending data is from 2018-2019 at $11,746, and limited historical data makes it difficult to assess long-term trends in dropout rates or demographics.
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