📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in Alabama

Alabama has 108 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

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📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Alabama Sorted by rating — highest first
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Mountain Brook City School DistrictMountain Brook10/10  Excellent99th
#2Vestavia Hills City School DistrictVestavia Hills10/10  Excellent98th
#3Madison City SchoolsMadison10/10  Excellent97th
#4Trussville City School DistrictTrussville10/10  Excellent95th
#5Homewood City School DistrictHomewood10/10  Excellent94th
#6Auburn City School DistrictAuburn University10/10  Excellent92th
#7Auburn City SchoolsAuburn10/10  Excellent92th
#8Hoover City School DistrictHoover10/10  Excellent91th
#9Brewton City School DistrictBrewton9/10  Excellent89th
#10Enterprise City School DistrictEnterprise9/10  Excellent89th
#11Madison County School DistrictMadison9/10  Excellent89th
#12Saraland City School DistrictSaraland9/10  Excellent89th
#13Baldwin County School DistrictBay Minette9/10  Excellent88th
#14Shelby County School DistrictShelby9/10  Excellent88th
#15Dale County School DistrictAriton9/10  Excellent86th
#16Winfield City School DistrictWinfield9/10  Excellent86th
#17Alabaster City School DistrictAlabaster9/10  Excellent85th
#18Autauga County School DistrictAutauga9/10  Excellent85th
#19Houston County School DistrictAshford9/10  Excellent82th
#20Lauderdale County School DistrictLauderdale9/10  Excellent82th
#21Satsuma City School DistrictSatsuma9/10  Excellent82th
#22St. Clair County School DistrictSt. Clair9/10  Excellent82th
#23Florence City School DistrictFlorence8/10  Good79th
#24Elmore County School DistrictElmore8/10  Good77th
#25Geneva City School DistrictGeneva8/10  Good77th

Best School Districts in Alabama (2026)

This ranking covers 108 rated public school districts in Alabama, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.

A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →

How to Use This List

Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Alabama?
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Mountain Brook City School District in Mountain Brook, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated?
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores?
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.