Hewitt-Trussville High School ranks among top 5% in nation, says new U.S. News report

Posted By: Nathan Prewetton: August 18, 2026In: Education, Local News, Trussville City Schools

Nathan Prewett

TRUSSVILLE, Ala. — A new report from U.S. News & World Report ranking schools is out and Hewitt-Trussville High School is among the top 5% of schools in the country.

HTHS Principal Aaron King said that the momentum began several years ago. The statewide ranking in the 2022 school year the school was ranked at 15, followed by the 2023 year at 12, placed nine in 2024 and then seven in 2025.

HTHS now ranks fifth in Alabama and was placed 679 nationally.

“So, we can kind of see the trajectory,” he said. “This is an external indicator of the internal success we’re seeing. We know that we’re doing the right things instructionally.”

He clarified that “we” meant the teachers, staff members, counselors, and administrators not only at the high school but the three elementary schools and the middle school.

“This is the achievement as a result of that hard work overtime, so to me it’s not a shock,” he said. “While we’re extremely pleased of the achievement we can see that we’re heading in this direction and we have zero thoughts of staying where we are or regressing. Our goal is looking forward.”

According to the report, almost 18,000 out of an estimated 27,000 public schools were ranked based on college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rate.

The school earned an overall score of 96.22 in the scorecard:

65% took at least one AP® exam
50% passed at least one AP® exam
56% scored in mathematics proficiency
59% scored in reading proficiency
65% scored in science proficiency

King said that an estimated 900 students took at least one AP® or Advanced Placement® exam in the past spring, amounting to the 65%. Less than 2,000 AP® exams were given out.

“So, we’ve really raised the expectations around what our students are capable of doing,” he remarked. “And as a result they’re matching that expectation.”

The report stated that HTHS performed nationally and statewide out of 17,945 nationally ranked schools and 293 schools ranked in Alabama.

College Readiness Index Rank #1,057 nationally, #4 statewide
College Curriculum Breadth Index Rank #788 nationally, #4 statewide
State Assessment Proficiency Rank #333 nationally, #6 statewide
State Assessment Performance Rank #3,091 nationally, #51
Graduation Rate Rank was listed as N/A

Trussville City Schools Superintendent Patrick Martin was similarly not surprised when he heard.

“I think we’re all excited,” he said. “Not surprised. We all know what a special educational program we have in Trussville. I think this just speaks to the testament to really K-12 because when we look at this this is just as much an achievement for elementary and middle school as it did for the high school but it’s really just a testament to the hard work of our teachers, the hard work of our students, support of our parents and community.”

The teachers and faculty staff were noted by both King and Martin, who said that working with the district’s board of education on staffing helped to make a difference.

“We have a really strong teaching and learning department,” said Martin. “And when the board of education allows us to hire people such as literacy coaches, math coaches, we’re supported with department chairs at the high school.”

He went on to say that the board of education funds 50 locally funded units, which is money outside of federal and state support.

“Every one of our teachers has been extremely dedicated,” King said, elaborating that the school has an “exceptional” retention rate. “So, teachers that come here tend to stay, which is really important to the school’s culture, but the teachers here are fully invested. They don’t see this as a job, they see this as a calling.”

Martin said that among the challenges of getting the school to where it is included funding and college readiness.

“I think the challenges for Trussville is just living into the power of how strong of an academic program we have,” he said. “I think that more of Trussville students in the upper grades know that this is sort of the standard. Don’t be surprised by this. This is the standard of Trussville. This is what we are fully capable of. Sometimes just getting over that hurdle and realizing that they’re a part of this is as important.”

King credited “clarity” as being part of HTHS’ recent achievement.

“I think it’s a clarity of vision, mission and purpose,” he said. “Every single person knows what we’re trying to accomplish every single day and it’s a culmination of the hard work of every person that works within the school system as well as getting our kids, all of our students, our parents onboard with that vision, that mission, that purpose.”

The following is the complete list of the eight highest ranked schools in Alabama: