Virgil Grissom High School
Virgil Grissom High School serves 1,810 students in grades 9-12.
Virgil Grissom High School placed in the top 30% of all schools in Alabama for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 20%) for the 2018-19 school year.
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 55% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 47%) for the 2018-19 school year. The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 61% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 45%) for the 2018-19 school year.
The student:teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the Alabama state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 39% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Alabama state average of 45% (majority Black).
Top Rankings
Virgil Grissom High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
- Category Attribute
- Reading/Language Arts Proficiency Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
- Diversity Most diverse schools (Top 20%)
School Overview
Virgil Grissom High School's student population of 1,810 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 98 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
| Awards | Blue Ribbon School (2007) |
| Grades Offered | Grades 9-12 |
| Total Students | 1,810 students |
| |
| Gender % |
|
| Total Classroom Teachers | 98 teachers |
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| Students by Grade |
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School Rankings
Virgil Grissom High School is ranked within the top 30% of all 1,263 schools in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2018-19 school year.
The diversity score of Virgil Grissom High School is 0.58, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.59. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
| Definition of Terms 2017-2018 School Year Data | This School | State Level (AL) |
Overall Testing Rank | #263 out of 1263 schools (Top 30%) | |
| ||
Math Test Scores (% Proficient) | 55% | 47% |
| ||
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient) | 61% | 45% |
| ||
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 |
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| American Indian | 1% | 1% |
| Asian | 4% | 1% |
| Hispanic | 12% | 8% |
| Black | 18% | 33% |
| White | 61% | 55% |
| Hawaiian | n/a | n/a |
| Two or more races | 4% | 2% |
| All Ethnic Groups |
|
|
Diversity Score | 0.58 | 0.59 |
| ||
Graduation Rate | 87% | 91% |
| ||
| Eligible for Free Lunch | 28% | 50% |
| Eligible for Reduced Lunch | 4% | 6% |
| School Statewide Testing | View Education Department Test Scores | |
| School District Name | Huntsville City School District | |
Source: 2017-2018 (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 High School (4.5 miles away)
The nearest middle school is Whitesburg P8 (1.9 miles away)
The nearest elementary school is Weatherly Heights Elementary School (1.4 miles away)
Show me:
- School (Math and Reading Proficiency) Location Miles Grades Students
- Huntsville Weatherly Heights Elementary School Math: 67% | Reading: 62%Rank:9/Top 20% Grades: PK-5 | 487 students10
1.4 miles
1307 Canstatt Dr
Huntsville, AL 35803
(256) 428-7460 1.4 PK-5 487 - Huntsville Whitesburg P8 Math: 40% | Reading: 41%Rank:4/Bottom 50% Grades: PK-8 | 1,022 student10
1.9 miles
107 Sanders Rd
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256) 428-7780 1.9 PK-8 1,022 - Huntsville Jones Valley Elementary School Math: 57% | Reading: 59%Rank:9/Top 20% Grades: PK-6 | 525 students10
2.0 miles
4908 Garth Rd
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256) 428-7220 2 PK-6 525 - Huntsville Roger B Chaffee Elementary School Math: 62% | Reading: 55%Rank:9/Top 20% Grades: PK-5 | 421 students10
2.0 miles
7900 Whittier Rd
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256) 428-7040 2 PK-5 421 - Huntsville Mountain Gap P8 Math: 61% | Reading: 61%Rank:9/Top 20% Grades: PK-8 | 800 students10
2.6 miles
821 Mt Gap Rd
Huntsville, AL 35803
(256) 428-7720 2.6 PK-8 800
School Reviews
| 5 2/21/2019 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 4/16/2018 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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