Shelby County School District

410 E College St
Columbiana, AL 35051-0410
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Shelby County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 7 public preschools serving 2,184 students in Shelby County School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public pre schools in Alabama.
Public Preschools in Shelby County School District have an average math proficiency score of 56% (versus the Alabama public pre school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 65% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Alabama public preschool average of 48% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (AL)
# Schools
33 Schools
596 Schools
# Students
20,638 Students
285,320 Students
# Teachers
1,280 Teachers
17,073 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Shelby County School District, which is ranked within the top 20% 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 95% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AL)
#18 out of 145 school districts
(Top 20%)
41%
30%
60%
47%
48%
38%
95%
88%
(2022-23)
17.1%
22.6%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.54
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
1%
% Hispanic
12%
11%
% Black
18%
30%
% White
65%
52%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,609 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,875. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,639 is less than the state median of $12,097. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
This School District
This State (AL)
Total Revenue
$260 MM
$9,671 MM
Spending
$240 MM
$9,086 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,609
$12,875
Spending / Student
$11,639
$12,097

Best Shelby County School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Oak Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5640 Cahaba Valley Rd
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 682-5230
Gr: PK-3 | 675 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #22.
Inverness Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5251 Valleydale Rd
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 682-5240
Gr: PK-3 | 563 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #33.
Wilsonville Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
71 School St
Wilsonville, AL 35186
(205) 682-6640
Gr: PK-5 | 229 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #44.
Shelby Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
19099 Highway 145
Shelby, AL 35143
(205) 682-6630
Gr: PK-5 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #55.
Vincent Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
40800 Highway 25
Vincent, AL 35178
(205) 682-7320
Gr: PK-5 | 397 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #66.
Linda Nolen Learning Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2280 Highwy 35
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 682-5800
Gr: PK-12 | 78 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
Star Program Elementary School
Alternative School
2280 Highway 35
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 682-5800
Gr: PK-5

Recent Articles

How to Read a School Improvement Plan Before Choosing a School
How to Read a School Improvement Plan Before Choosing a School
Learn how to read a school improvement plan, identify meaningful goals, and evaluate whether a school's improvement efforts align with your child's educational needs.
Should You Move for a Better Public School? A Cost vs. Benefit Analysis
Should You Move for a Better Public School? A Cost vs. Benefit Analysis
Considering a move to a better public school? Explore the financial, academic, and lifestyle tradeoffs before making one of your family's biggest decisions.
When a Higher-Rated School Isn't the Better Fit
When a Higher-Rated School Isn't the Better Fit
Discover why the highest-rated public school may not always be the best choice and learn how to evaluate schools based on your child's unique needs.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 33 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 20,638 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 35%
  • : 95% (Top 10% in AL)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 41% (Top 20%)
  • : 60% (Top 20%)
  • : 48% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Quick Links