Bessemer City School District

1621 5th Ave N
Bessemer, AL 35020
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public preschools serving 1,076 students in Bessemer City School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Alabama.
Public Preschools in Bessemer City School District have an average math proficiency score of 7% (versus the Alabama public pre school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 17% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Alabama public preschool average of 48% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (AL)
# Schools
8 Schools
648 Schools
# Students
3,121 Students
310,670 Students
# Teachers
151 Teachers
18,546 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 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 65% has decreased from 73% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AL)
#138 out of 145 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
5%
29%
20%
47%
12%
38%
65%
88%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.39
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
20%
11%
% Black
76%
30%
% White
2%
52%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
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 (19-20)
$15,448
$13,006
Spending / Student (19-20)
$14,357
$12,220

Best Bessemer City School District Public Preschools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Abrams Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1200 23rd Street North
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3100
Grades: PK-5
| 217 students
Rank: #22.
Jonesboro Elementary School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
125 Owen Ave
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3400
Grades: PK-5
| 509 students
Rank: #33.
Charles F Hard Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2801 Arlington Ave
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3300
Grades: PK-5
| 350 students

Recent Articles

What is Project-Based Learning?
What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning has been highly touted by some educators as a viable option to traditional learning models. We’ll take a look at what project-based learning is and why it is getting so much attention today.
What is an Online High School
What is an Online High School
Find information about Online High Schools - what they are and how they work.
“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
We explore new federal regulations that will ban junk food from public schools. This means no more sweets and soda in cafeteria lines, vending machines and snacks sold in other locations around the schools.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,121 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 21:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 98%
  • : 65% (Btm 50% in AL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 5% (Btm 50%)
  • : 20% (Btm 50%)
  • : 12% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Quick Links