| Metric | Vestavia Hills City School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 23,776 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 9 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $9,500/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Public School District | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 10/10 — Excellent | — | Near average |
| District | Rating | Percentile | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vestavia Hills City School District (this district) | 10/10 | 99th | 23,776 |
| Vestavia Hills City School District | 6/10 | 59th | 23,776 |
🔢 Show the math behind this rating
Ranked against 109 rated districts in AL → → 6/10.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts, 2021–22 school year. Full methodology →
- Pizitz Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1131 students
- Vestavia Hills Elementary East — Grades PK–5 · 771 students
- Vestavia Hills Elementary West — Grades K–5 · 691 students
- Vestavia Hills High School — Grades 10–12 · 1625 students
- Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park — Grades PK–5 · 546 students
- Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights — Grades PK–5 · 451 students
- Liberty Park Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 514 students
- Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge — Grades K–5 · 657 students
- Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus — Grades 9–9 · 548 students
- Hampton Cove Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 785 students
- Williams Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 659 students
- Whitesburg Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 535 students
- Birmingham Junior High School — Grades 7–8 · 530 students
- Morris Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 397 students
- Ronald McNair 78 — Grades 7–8 · 390 students
- Mountain Gap Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 366 students
- Chapman Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 315 students
- Academy for Academics and Arts Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 270 students
- Academy For Science Foreign Language Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 194 students
- Virgil Grissom High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,847 students
- Birmingham High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,807 students
- Columbia High School — Grades 9–12 · 916 students
- Lee High School — Grades 9–12 · 877 students
- Jemison High School — Grades 9–12 · 858 students
- New Century Technology High School — Grades 9–12 · 366 students
- Birmingham Center For Technology — Grades 9–12
- Blossomwood Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 596 students
- Sonnie Hereford Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 578 students
- Rolling Hills Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 483 students
- Jones Valley Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 471 students
- James Dawson Elementary — Grades PK–6 · 447 students
- Challenger Middle School — Grades 6–9 · 425 students
- Lakewood Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 397 students
- Highlands Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 370 students
- Artemis Virtual Academy — Grades K–12 · 338 students
- Monte Sano Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 263 students
- Mental Health Center — Grades K–12
About Vestavia Hills City School District
Vestavia Hills City School District is the public school district assigned to zip code 35216 in Birmingham, Alabama. Serving students from K–12, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 35216. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Vestavia Hills City School District spends approximately $9,500 per student per year, placing it near the Alabama state average of approximately $9,500 and significantly below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Districts with constrained budgets face challenges with class sizes, program breadth, and facility upkeep. Ask specifically about available services when enrolling. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
At 9 schools serving grades K–12, Vestavia Hills City School District qualifies as a mid-sized district serving students from K–12. The district enrolls approximately 7,069 students in total. Mid-sized districts strike a balance between community-scale relationships and sufficient program breadth. Most offer core academic tracks, basic extracurricular programs, and adequate student support services.
Understanding the 10/10 Rating
With a rating of 10/10 (top-tier), Vestavia Hills City School District ranks among Alabama’s top-tier-rated school systems. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in the U.S. Department of Education’s EDFacts collection (2017–18 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Alabama is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Vestavia Hills City School District ranks among the highest-performing public school districts in Alabama on state assessments, with reading and math proficiency rates in roughly the top 10–20% statewide. Homes in and around zip code 35216 often carry a measurable premium relative to neighboring areas served by lower-rated districts. Families moving here for academic strength will find a district whose students test well above the state norm. Even within top-rated districts, individual school performance varies — confirm your specific school assignments directly with the district.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 35216
Children in zip code 35216 are assigned to Vestavia Hills City School District for public school enrollment, covering grades K–12. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 35216, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Vestavia Hills City School District at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Alabama districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Birmingham
For families considering a purchase in the Birmingham area, district assignment matters financially. Because Vestavia Hills City School District serves zip code 35216, homes in and around zip code 35216 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Alabama, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Vestavia Hills City School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 35216.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Vestavia Hills City School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 35216 data.