Bessemer City School District

1621 5th Ave N
Bessemer, AL 35020
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 805 students in Bessemer City School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Alabama.
Public High Schools in Bessemer City School District have an average math proficiency score of 5% (versus the Alabama public high school average of 23%), and reading proficiency score of 8% (versus the 37% statewide average).
Public High School in Bessemer City School District have a Graduation Rate of 71%, which is less than the Alabama average of 89%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Bessemer City High School, with 71% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Alabama or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Alabama public high school average of 45% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (AL)
# Schools
8 Schools
522 Schools
# Students
3,121 Students
269,281 Students
# Teachers
151 Teachers
15,139 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
21:1

Student By Grade

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%)
8%
30%
20%
47%
12%
38%
71%
88%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.39
0.61
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
20%
10%
% Black
76%
30%
% White
2%
55%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
3%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,448 is higher than the state median of $13,006. The school district revenue/student has grown by 25% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,357 is higher than the state median of $12,220. The school district spending/student has grown by 26% over four school years.
This School District
This State (AL)
Total Revenue
$48 MM
$9,671 MM
Spending
$45 MM
$9,086 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,448
$13,006
Spending / Student
$14,357
$12,220

Best Bessemer City School District Public High Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bessemer City High School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4950 Premiere Parkway
Bessemer, AL 35022
(205) 432-3700
Gr: 9-12 | 805 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: n/an/a
New Horizon Alternative School
Alternative School
1701 6th Ave N
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3036
Gr: 7-12

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,121 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
  • 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

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