| Metric | Birmingham City School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 23,776 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 49 | 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 | 2/10 — Poor | — | Near average |
| District | Rating | Percentile | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City School District (this district) | 2/10 | 13th | 23,776 |
| Birmingham 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 →
- Engle Day Treatment — Grades 1–7 · 0 students
- Avondale Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 339 students
- Barrett Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 383 students
- Charles A Brown Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 296 students
- Central Park Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 386 students
- Christian School — Grades PK–8 · 574 students
- EPIC Alternative Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 232 students
- Oliver K5 School — Grades PK–5 · 343 students
- Green Acres Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 309 students
- Hemphill Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 353 students
- Hudson KEight School — Grades PK–8 · 580 students
- Huffman Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 384 students
- Huffman High SchoolMagnet — Grades 9–12 · 1094 students
- Inglenook School — Grades PK–8 · 312 students
- Minor Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 441 students
- Norwood Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 261 students
- JacksonOlin High School — Grades 9–12 · 713 students
- Parker High School — Grades 9–12 · 942 students
- Princeton School — Grades PK–5 · 195 students
- WE Putnam Middle SchoolMagnet — Grades 6–8 · 184 students
- Ramsay High School — Grades 9–12 · 762 students
- Robinson Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 354 students
- Smith Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 336 students
- Tuggle Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 423 students
- Washington K8 — Grades PK–8 · 617 students
- Jones Valley Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 465 students
- Wenonah High School — Grades 9–12 · 670 students
- Wilkerson Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 424 students
- Woodlawn High SchoolMagnet — Grades 9–12 · 750 students
- Wylam Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 399 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 Birmingham City School District
Families in zip code 35242 (Birmingham, Alabama) are assigned to Birmingham City School District for public education through 12. This overview covers the district’s funding levels, scale, rating, and what to expect from the enrollment process if you’re moving to or within this zip code.
Funding and Resources
Per-pupil spending at Birmingham City School District runs approximately $9,500 annually, 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
Birmingham City School District is a very large district with 49 schools serving students from K–12. The district enrolls approximately 21,130 students in total. Very large districts are complex systems with significant variation in school quality across attendance zones. They typically offer extensive programs — magnet schools, specialized high schools, dual-language tracks, advanced coursework — but navigating these options requires active engagement with the district.
Understanding the 2/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Birmingham City School District 2 out of 10 — low-rated among Alabama public school districts. 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.
Birmingham City School District holds a low overall rating, with reading and math proficiency among the lowest in Alabama on state assessments. Test results reflect many factors beyond the classroom, including community and economic conditions; a low score is a signal to research carefully, not a verdict on any individual school or teacher. Families in this area should research all available alternatives: inter-district transfers, charter schools, and magnet programs. Contact the district directly to understand exactly what programs are available at your assigned school.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 35242
Children in zip code 35242 are assigned to Birmingham 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 35242, 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 Birmingham City School District at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. 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
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Birmingham City School District serves zip code 35242, buyers should factor school district quality into their overall evaluation of homes in zip code 35242. 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 Birmingham 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 35242.
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 Birmingham City School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 35242 data.