Virgil Grissom High School
- Virgil Grissom High School serves 1,820 students in grades 9-12.
- The percentage of students achieving proficiency in Math is 30% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 44%) for the 2016-17 school year. The percentage of students achieving proficiency in Reading/Language Arts is 40% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 39%) for the 2016-17 school year.
- The student:teacher ratio of 19:1 is higher than the Alabama state level of 18:1.
- Minority enrollment is 38% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Alabama state average of 45%.
Top Placements
Virgil Grissom High School places among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
- Category Attribute
- Diversity Most diverse schools (Top 20%)
- Community Size Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
School Overview
- Virgil Grissom High School's student population of 1,820 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
- The teacher population of 94 teachers has declined by 6% over five school years.
| Awards |  Blue Ribbon School (2007) |
| Grades Offered | Grades 9-12 |
| Total Students | 1,820 students |
 | |
| Gender % |  |
| Total Classroom Teachers | 94 teachers |
 | |
| Students by Grade |  |
School Comparison
- Virgil Grissom High School's student:teacher ratio of 19:1 has stayed the same over five school years.
- The diversity score of Virgil Grissom High School is 0.57, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.34. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
| Definition of Terms 2016-2017 School Year Data | This School | State Level (AL) |
| Overall School Rank | #756 out of 1,264 schools (Bottom 50%) | |
| Math Test Scores (% Proficient) | 30% | 44% |
 | ||
| Reading / Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient) | 40% | 39% |
 | ||
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 |
 | ||
| American Indian | n/a | 1% |
| Asian | 3% | 1% |
| Hispanic | 12% | 7% |
| Black | 19% | 33% |
| White | 62% | 55% |
| Two or more races | 4% | 2% |
| All Ethnic Groups |  |  |
| Diversity Score | 0.57 | 0.34 |
 | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 88% |
 | ||
| Eligible for Free Lunch | 29% | 47% |
| Eligible for Reduced Lunch | 3% | 5% |
| School Statewide Testing | View Education Department Test Scores | |
| School District Name | Huntsville City School District | |
Source: 2016-2017 (latest school year available) NCES, AL Dept. of Education
School Notes
- Virgil I. Grissom High School is a public 9th through 12th grade high school in Huntsville, Alabama. It is known academically as one of Alabama's finest public high schools.
- The high school's building is well-known for having no windows. This was changed, however, with the addition of a new science wing in 1997. This added about 5 windows to the school. Grissom's building is divided into "pods", lettered A-H on the first floor and AA-HH on the second. The building itself follows a roughly octagonal format. Students jokingly refer to the school as "Grissom Penitentiary" because of the symmetric design.
- Grissom is also home to many productive sports teams.The school also has numerous social, academic, and athletic organizations, or clubs.
- Academically, the school has had much success. Grissom's math teams and academic team are among the best in the state of Alabama, and they have also earned national recognition.
- The school is named for astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom, and its mascot is affectionately called "Gus." Gus Grissom was nearly drowned during a space capsule retrieval in the Pacific Ocean when the hatches prematurely opened following explosive bolt actuation. He was killed in the Apollo 1 fire at Cape Kennedy on January 27, 1967. It is unfortunate that his death has been so controversal having followed his whistleblower type activities.
Nearby Public Schools
- The nearest high school to Virgil Grissom High School is Huntsville Center For Technical (4.5 miles away)
- The nearest middle school is Whitesburg Middle School (1.9 miles away)
- The nearest elementary school is Weatherly Heights Elementary School (1.4 miles away)
Show me:
- School Location Miles Grades Students
- Huntsville Weatherly Heights Elementary School Grades: PK-5 | 493 students
1.4 miles
1307 Canstatt Dr
Huntsville, AL 35803
(256)428-7460 1.4 PK-5 493 - Huntsville Whitesburg Middle School Grades: PK-8 | 1062 students
1.9 miles
107 Sanders Rd
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256)428-7780 1.9 PK-8 1062 - Huntsville Jones Valley Elementary School Grades: PK-6 | 559 students
2.0 miles
4908 Garth Rd
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256)428-7220 2.0 PK-6 559 - Huntsville Roger B Chaffee Elementary School Grades: PK-5 | 424 students
2.0 miles
7900 Whittier Rd
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256)428-7040 2.0 PK-5 424 - Huntsville Mt Gap Middle School Grades: PK-8 | 776 students
2.6 miles
821 Mt Gap Rd
Huntsville, AL 35803
(256)428-7720 2.6 PK-8 776
School Reviews
| 5 Wonderful school and arts programs. I learned so much and took pride in what I was taught. - Posted by Student/Alumni - Student of 2016 |
| 2 the schools show little interest in the wants/needs of students.There is loads of bullying. Teachers do not explain things well enough to students - Posted by Student/Alumni - k l h |
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