From Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — U.S. News and World report has released the 2023 Alabama Best High School rankings list.
Among the eight high schools in The Tribune coverage area, Hewitt-Trussville High School received the highest ranking followed by Shades Valley, Springville, Moody, Leeds, Pinson Valley, Clay-Chalkville and Center Point high schools.
The national rankings include data on nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Alabama, 376 traditional high schools were ranked.
According to the U.S. News Best High Schools methodology, schools were rated on the following six measures, and the weights used for each indicator are in parentheses below.
College readiness (30% of the ranking): This is the percentage of 12th graders from the class of 2020-2021 who took at least one AP or IB exam by the end of their senior year and the percentage of 12th graders who earned a qualifying score on at least one AP or IB exam in high school. Earning a qualifying score is weighted three times more than simply taking the exam.
College curriculum breadth (10%): This is the percentage of 12th graders from the class of 2020-2021 who took a wide variety of AP and IB courses across the multiple disciplines and the percentage of 12th graders who earned a qualifying score on them. Earning a qualifying score is weighted three times more than taking.
State assessment proficiency (20%): This measures how well students scored on state assessments that measure proficiency in reading, science and mathematics. Passing these assessments can be required for graduation. Examples of assessments include Smarter Balanced in California and the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. This state assessment proficiency indicator is either based on 2020-2021 or 2018-2019 state assessment data or an average of those years.
State assessment performance (20%): This is the difference between how students performed on state assessments and what U.S. News predicted based on a school’s student body. U.S. News’ modeling across all 50 states and the District of Columbia indicates that the performance percentage of students from historically underserved subgroups – defined as Black students, Hispanic students, and students who are eligible for free and reduced price lunch – are highly predictive of a school’s reading, science and math scores. This state assessment performance indicator is either based on 2020-2021 or 2018-2019 state assessment data or an average of those years.
Underserved student performance (10%): This is how well the student population receiving subsidized school lunch and Black and Hispanic populations perform on state assessments relative to statewide performance among students not in those subgroups. This state assessment underserved student performance indicator is based on 2018-2019 state assessment data.
Graduation rate (10%): For the 2023-2024 rankings, the graduation rate corresponds to the 2021 high school class graduation cohort who would have entered ninth grade in the 2017-2018 school year. High school graduation rates were collected directly from each state along with the math, reading and science assessment data.
Hewitt-Trussville High School
Overall Score 91.88/100
- Alabama ranking among traditional high schools: 9th
- Alabama ranking among all high schools, including charter and magnet: 12th
- Birmingham Metro ranking: 6th
- National ranking: 1,436th
- Graduation rate: N/A
- College readiness: 43.3%
From the report: “Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® coursework and exams. The AP® participation rate at Hewitt-Trussville High School is 51%. The total minority enrollment is 22%, and 4% of students are economically disadvantaged. Hewitt-Trussville High School is the only high school in the Trussville City.”
Read the full HTHS report here.
Shades Valley High School
Overall Score 78.7/100
- Alabama ranking among traditional high schools: 41st
- Alabama ranking among all high schools, including charter and magnet: 45th
- Birmingham Metro ranking: 12th
- National ranking: 3,765th
- Graduation rate: 93%
- College readiness: 13.9%
From the report: “The AP® participation rate at Shades Valley High School is 26%. The total minority enrollment is 76%, and 43% of students are economically disadvantaged. Shades Valley High School is 1 of 15 high schools in the Jefferson County Schools.”
Springville High School
Overall Score 75.15/100
- Alabama ranking among traditional high schools: 51st
- Alabama ranking among all high schools, including charter and magnet: 55th
- Birmingham Metro ranking: 14th
- National ranking: 4,394th
- Graduation rate: N/A
- College readiness: 31.2%
From the report: “The AP® participation rate at Springville High School is 38%. The total minority enrollment is 11%, and 22% of students are economically disadvantaged. Springville High School is 1 of 6 high schools in the St Clair County.”
Read the full SHS report here.
Moody High School
Overall Score 57.8/100
- Alabama ranking among traditional high schools: 107th
- Alabama ranking among all high schools, including charter and magnet: 111th
- Birmingham Metro ranking: 21st
- National ranking: 7,461st
- Graduation rate: 93%
- College readiness: 21.8%
From the report: “The AP® participation rate at Moody High School is 49%. The total minority enrollment is 29%, and 39% of students are economically disadvantaged. Moody High School is 1 of 6 high schools in the St Clair County.”
Read the full MHS report here.
Leeds High School
Overall Score 55.03/100
- Alabama ranking among traditional high schools: 119th
- Alabama ranking among all high schools, including charter and magnet: 123rd
- Birmingham Metro ranking: 22nd
- National ranking: 7,951st
- Graduation rate: N/A
- College readiness: 25.4%
From the report: “The AP® participation rate at Leeds High School is 41%. The total minority enrollment is 43%, and 38% of students are economically disadvantaged. Leeds High School is the only high school in the Leeds City.”
Read the full LHS report here.
Pinson Valley High School
Overall Score 44.29/100
- Alabama ranking among traditional high schools: 152nd
- Alabama ranking among all high schools, including charter and magnet: 157th
- Birmingham Metro ranking: 29th
- National ranking: 9,849th
- Graduation rate: N/A
- College readiness: 15.6%
From the report: “The AP® participation rate at Pinson Valley High School is 27%. The total minority enrollment is 78%, and 63% of students are economically disadvantaged. Pinson Valley High School is 1 of 15 high schools in the Jefferson County Schools.”
Read the full PVHS report here.
Clay-Chalkville High School
Overall Score 30.38/100
- Alabama ranking among traditional high schools: 212th
- Alabama ranking among all high schools, including charter and magnet: 217th
- Birmingham Metro ranking: 39th
- National ranking: 12,308th
- Graduation rate: 90%
- College readiness: 9.1%
From the report: “The AP® participation rate at Clay-Chalkville High School is 20%. The total minority enrollment is 89%, and 56% of students are economically disadvantaged. Clay-Chalkville High School is 1 of 15 high schools in the Jefferson County Schools.”
Read the full CCHS report here.
Center Point High School
Overall Score less than 25
- Alabama ranking among traditional high schools: 237-359th
- Alabama ranking among all high schools, including charter and magnet: 237-359th
- Birmingham Metro ranking: 40-44th
- National ranking: 13,261-17,680th
- Graduation rate: 87%
- College readiness: 2%
From the report: “The AP® participation rate at Center Point High School is 8%. The total minority enrollment is 99%, and 91% of students are economically disadvantaged. Center Point High School is 1 of 15 high schools in the Jefferson County Schools.”
Read the full CPHS report here.