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Bessemer City School District

Item: Bessemer City School District
Rating: 1
Author: Public School Review

1621 5th Ave N
Bessemer, AL 35020

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (205) 432-3000

www.bessk12.org

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 2,252 students in Bessemer City School District. This district's average elementary is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Alabama.

Public Elementary Schools in Bessemer City School District have an score of 7% (versus the Alabama public elementary school average of 31%), and score of 21% (versus the 49% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Alabama public elementary school average of 50% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District

This State (AL)

# Schools

9 Schools

1,085 Schools

# Students

3,012 Students

522,107 Students

# Teachers

155 Teachers

29,588 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

19:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
Pre-K	108	127
Kind	279	345
1	257	364
2	257	363
3	257	367
4	244	348
5	234	345
6	195	343
7	234	262
8	187	253

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District Rank

Bessemer City School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 145 school districts in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 71% has decreased from 77% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (AL)

#135 out of 145 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District
2023	#135
2022	#138
2021	#127
2019	#127
2018	#121
2017	#126
2016	#127
2015	#130
2014	#130
2013	#120
2012	#120
2011	#108

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30%

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	8%	30%
2022	5%	29%
2021	3%	24%
2019	21%	47%
2018	24%	47%
2017	20%	44%
2016	19%	43%
2015	14%	40%
2014	12%	38%
2013	69%	80%
2012	69%	82%
2011	75%	80%

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20%

47%

View Data

Showing 2012–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2022	20%	47%
2021	19%	46%
2019	22%	45%
2018	24%	46%
2017	17%	39%
2016	16%	38%
2015	16%	41%
2014	17%	42%
2013	72%	86%
2012	75%	86%
2011	77%	85%

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12%

38%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2022	12%	38%
2021	13%	36%

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71%

90%

View Data

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	71%	90%
2022	65%	88%
2021	67%	89%
2020	66%	90%
2019	78%	91%
2018	77%	89%
2017	73%	88%
2016	79%	87%
2015	72%	89%
2014	73%	86%
2013	48%	81%
2012	40%	78%
2011	36%	75%

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(2022-23)

40.8%

22.6%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	40.8%	22.6%
2022	44.1%	22.7%
2021	18.6%	11.3%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.40

0.64

View Data

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	0.36	0.62
2022	0.36	0.61
2021	0.32	0.61
2020	0.27	0.60
2019	0.27	0.60
2018	0.18	0.59
2017	0.18	0.59
2016	0.17	0.58
2015	0.16	0.58
2014	0.14	0.56
2013	0.14	0.55
2012	0.13	0.55
2011	0.13	0.53
2010	0.12	0.53
2009	0.12	0.53
2008	0.12	0.53
2007	0.10	0.53
2006	0.09	0.53
2005	0.08	0.51
2004	0.09	0.51
2003	0.07	0.51
2002	0.07	0.51
2001	0.09	0.50
2000	0.10	0.50
1999	0.12	0.50
1998	0.12	0.49
1997	0.15	0.50
1996	0.16	0.49
1995	0.18	0.49
1994	0.20	0.49
1993	0.23	0.48
1992	0.25	0.48
1991	0.28	0.48
1990	0.30	0.48
1989	0.34	0.48

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

n/a

% Hispanic

22%

12%

View Data

Showing 2014–2023. Full 21-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (2003-2023)
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	17%	11%
2022	16%	10%
2021	14%	9%
2020	11%	9%
2019	11%	8%
2018	8%	8%
2017	8%	7%
2016	7%	7%
2015	6%	6%
2014	6%	5%
2013	5%	5%
2012	5%	5%
2011	4%	4%
2010	4%	4%
2009	4%	4%
2008	3%	3%
2007	3%	3%
2006	3%	3%
2005	2%	2%
2004	2%	2%
2003	1%	2%

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% Black

75%

31%

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Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2023)
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	78%	32%
2022	79%	32%
2021	81%	32%
2020	85%	32%
2019	85%	33%
2018	90%	33%
2017	90%	33%
2016	91%	33%
2015	92%	33%
2014	92%	34%
2013	93%	34%
2012	93%	34%
2011	93%	35%
2010	94%	35%
2009	94%	35%
2008	94%	36%
2007	95%	36%
2006	95%	36%
2005	96%	36%
2004	96%	36%
2003	96%	36%
2002	97%	36%
2001	96%	36%
2000	95%	36%
1999	94%	36%
1998	94%	36%
1997	92%	36%
1996	92%	36%
1995	90%	36%
1994	89%	36%
1993	87%	36%
1992	85%	36%
1991	84%	36%
1990	82%	36%
1989	79%	36%

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% White

50%

View Data

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2023)
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	2%	52%
2022	2%	53%
2021	2%	53%
2020	3%	54%
2019	3%	54%
2018	2%	55%
2017	2%	55%
2016	2%	56%
2015	2%	56%
2014	2%	57%
2013	2%	58%
2012	2%	58%
2011	3%	59%
2010	2%	59%
2009	2%	59%
2008	3%	59%
2007	2%	59%
2006	2%	59%
2005	2%	60%
2004	2%	60%
2003	3%	60%
2002	3%	60%
2001	4%	61%
2000	5%	61%
1999	6%	61%
1998	6%	62%
1997	8%	61%
1996	8%	62%
1995	10%	62%
1994	11%	62%
1993	13%	63%
1992	15%	63%
1991	16%	63%
1990	18%	63%
1989	21%	63%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2019-2023)
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	3%	3%
2022	3%	3%
2021	3%	3%
2020	1%	3%
2019	1%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,575 is higher than the state median of $15,706. The school district revenue/student has grown by 21% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $18,594 is higher than the state median of $14,874. The school district spending/student has grown by 28% over four school years.

This School District

This State (AL)

Total Revenue

$56 MM

$11,791 MM

View Data

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	$56 MM	$43 MM
2022	$52 MM	$40 MM
2021	$48 MM	$36 MM
2020	$44 MM	$33 MM
2019	$44 MM	$34 MM
2018	$41 MM	$31 MM
2017	$44 MM	$31 MM
2016	$41 MM	$29 MM
2015	$41 MM	$30 MM
2014	$42 MM	$28 MM
2012	$41 MM	$28 MM
2011	$43 MM	$30 MM
2010	$41 MM	$30 MM
2009	$38 MM	$29 MM
2008	$43 MM	$32 MM
2007	$42 MM	$30 MM
2006	$37 MM	$28 MM
2005	$36 MM	$24 MM
2004	$31 MM	$23 MM
2003	$33 MM	$23 MM
2002	$31 MM	$22 MM
2001	$30 MM	$21 MM
2000	$42 MM	$21 MM
1999	$28 MM	$20 MM
1998	$25 MM	$19 MM
1997	$25 MM	$18 MM
1996	$23 MM	$15 MM
1995	$23 MM	$15 MM
1992	$19 MM	$12 MM
1990	$19 MM	$11 MM

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Spending

$56 MM

$11,166 MM

View Data

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	$56 MM	$42 MM
2022	$49 MM	$38 MM
2021	$45 MM	$34 MM
2020	$42 MM	$32 MM
2019	$43 MM	$32 MM
2018	$41 MM	$31 MM
2017	$41 MM	$31 MM
2016	$42 MM	$30 MM
2015	$56 MM	$30 MM
2014	$44 MM	$29 MM
2012	$40 MM	$29 MM
2011	$43 MM	$29 MM
2010	$56 MM	$30 MM
2009	$68 MM	$31 MM
2008	$45 MM	$31 MM
2007	$41 MM	$29 MM
2006	$35 MM	$27 MM
2005	$31 MM	$24 MM
2004	$33 MM	$24 MM
2003	$32 MM	$23 MM
2002	$32 MM	$22 MM
2001	$30 MM	$22 MM
2000	$30 MM	$21 MM
1999	$31 MM	$20 MM
1998	$27 MM	$19 MM
1997	$26 MM	$18 MM
1996	$23 MM	$16 MM
1995	$23 MM	$15 MM
1992	$19 MM	$12 MM
1990	$19 MM	$11 MM

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Revenue / Student

$18,575

$15,706

View Data

Showing 2011–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	$17,236	$16,261
2022	$15,306	$14,890
2020	$12,443	$12,106
2018	$11,434	$10,775
2017	$12,277	$10,752
2016	$11,040	$10,004
2015	$10,367	$10,181
2014	$10,624	$9,249
2012	$9,338	$9,447
2011	$9,593	$10,047
2010	$9,169	$10,181
2009	$8,810	$9,620
2008	$10,084	$12,838
2007	$10,087	$9,453
2006	$8,735	$8,864
2005	$8,624	$7,980
2004	$7,589	$7,481
2003	$7,680	$7,352
2002	$6,764	$7,090
2001	$6,579	$6,576
2000	$8,607	$6,614
1999	$5,827	$6,138
1998	$5,332	$5,727
1997	$4,749	$5,613
1995	$4,751	$4,603
1992	$3,607	$3,799
1990	$3,200	$3,588

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Spending / Student

$18,594

$14,874

View Data

Showing 2011–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Bessemer City School District	Alabama
2023	$17,254	$15,998
2022	$14,480	$14,298
2020	$12,001	$11,680
2018	$11,421	$10,820
2017	$11,315	$10,751
2016	$11,238	$10,236
2015	$14,043	$10,301
2014	$10,995	$9,732
2012	$9,100	$9,486
2011	$9,551	$9,833
2010	$12,419	$10,301
2009	$15,769	$10,180
2008	$10,551	$12,600
2007	$9,921	$9,149
2006	$8,389	$8,744
2005	$7,600	$8,000
2004	$8,019	$7,723
2003	$7,502	$7,470
2002	$6,805	$7,151
2001	$6,418	$7,125
2000	$6,148	$6,573
1999	$6,364	$6,238
1998	$5,799	$5,843
1997	$4,941	$5,461
1995	$4,774	$4,722
1992	$3,567	$3,861
1990	$3,298	$3,583

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Best Bessemer City School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Westhills Elementary School

(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 25-29%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

710 Glenn Rd
Bessemer, AL 35022
(205) 432-3500

Gr: PK-5 | 277 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

Rank: #22.

Abrams Elementary School

(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

1200 23rd Street North
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3100

Gr: PK-5 | 231 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 97%

Rank: #33.

Jonesboro Elementary School

(Math: 12% | Reading: 18%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

125 Owen Ave
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3400

Gr: PK-5 | 474 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

Rank: #44.

Charles F Hard Elementary School

(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

2801 Arlington Ave
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3300

Gr: PK-5 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 99%

Rank: #55.

Greenwood Elementary School

(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 20-24%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

5012 Roselyn Road Southeast
Bessemer, AL 35022
(205) 432-3201

Gr: PK-5 | 290 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 96%

Rank: #66.

Bessemer City Middle School

(Math: 3% | Reading: 23%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

100 High School Drive
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3601

Gr: 6-8 | 616 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%

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Quick Facts (26-27)

District size: 9 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 3,012 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Minority Enrollment: 98%
: 71% (Btm 50% in AL)
: Bottom 50%
: 8% (Btm 50%)
: 20% (Btm 50%)
: 12% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education