Summary:
Zip code 35217 in the Birmingham, Alabama area is served by two high schools—Fultondale High School and Tarrant High School—which together enroll about 1,445 students across grades 6-12 and 7-12, in a community where roughly three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
For families choosing between the two, Fultondale High School is the stronger academic option. It ranks 302nd out of 380 Alabama high schools (21st percentile) with a 1-star rating, while Tarrant High School ranks 360th (5th percentile) with a 0-star rating. Fultondale posts higher proficiency in 11th-grade math (14.12% vs. 1.69%) and science (22.35% vs. 11.86%), though both trail state averages significantly. Interestingly, Tarrant edges out Fultondale in 11th-grade English (7.02% vs. 5.0%), and Tarrant's graduation rate (94.3%) actually exceeds Fultondale's (90.0%) and the state average (91.5%)—a paradox given its much lower test scores. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at both schools, but especially at Tarrant, where 30.3% of students are chronically absent compared to 19.7% at Fultondale and 12.0% statewide. Tarrant also spends more per student ($11,985 vs. $9,557) without better outcomes, and its math proficiency is in the low single digits across all grade levels—a severe, systemic challenge.
Both schools belong to different districts: Jefferson County (ranked 101st of 139 districts) and Tarrant City (ranked 137th). Fultondale has shown a modest upward trend in state ranking over three years, while Tarrant has remained stagnant. For parents, Fultondale is the clear choice academically, but both schools face significant hurdles in math and attendance that families should weigh carefully.
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