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Schools in Forestdale · Jefferson County School District

Forestdale’s public schools score below 69% of Alabama districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 15% of Forestdale’s students scored proficient, below the Alabama average (27%). The grade covers the public school district serving Forestdale, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Alabama, not nationally.

#133of 187 Alabama townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Alabama state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
36%
▼ 11 pts vs AL 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
15%
▼ 12 pts vs AL 27%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 1 pts vs AL 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.6K
▼ 9% vs AL $13.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.5
AL 17.0
Schools in town
2
34,041 students on the public path
In brief

Forestdale’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 231 Alabama towns with household incomes within a quarter of Forestdale’s, its schools beat 15%, lower than their 31% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 36% of tested students were proficient in reading and 15% in math, against 47% and 27% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Alabama. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,625 per student, against $13,926 across Alabama (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

28 elementary schools, then 14 middle and 13 high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Glad Tidings Christian Academy (private) and Rock City Preparatory Christian School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Forestdale’s grade

C− Test scoresC+ Graduation

C: better than 31% of Alabama school districts, #133 of 187 Alabama towns. Graduation is above the Alabama average; test scores are below it.

Alabama school districts we grade (146)Better than 31%
Lower resultsHigher results
Alabama towns with similar household incomes (231)Better than 15%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 18,336 test results and a graduating class of 2,789 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Forestdale’s students in the tested grades sat them (18,411 in math, 18,262 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Forestdale, with each school’s own grade.

28 schools teach K in Forestdale’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D to A−, so check the specific school.
Fultondale Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fultondale
C
889 students20:1Rate it →
Chalkville Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Birmingham
D
818 students18:1Rate it →
Pinson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Pinson
753 students17:1Rate it →
McCalla Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bessemer
C+
752 students19:1Rate it →
Bryant Park Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Birmingham
C+
707 students17:1Rate it →
Gardendale Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Gardendale
B+
700 students19:1Rate it →
Bryan Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Morris
A−
697 students17:1Rate it →
McAdory Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · McCalla
C+
617 students17:1Rate it →
Warrior Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Warrior
B
612 students20:1Rate it →
Clay Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clay
C+
606 students17:1Rate it →
Hueytown Primary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Hueytown
601 students15:1Rate it →
UW Clemon Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Adamsville
D
590 students17:1Rate it →
Oak Grove Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bessemer
B+
576 students17:1Rate it →
Center Point Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Birmingham
557 students17:1Rate it →
Bagley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Dora
A−
550 students19:1Rate it →
Hueytown Intermediate School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Hueytown
C+
527 students20:1Rate it →
Pleasant Grove Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Pleasant Grove
C−
524 students18:1Rate it →
Irondale Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Irondale
C
435 students17:1Rate it →
Concord Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Bessemer
C+
400 students18:1Rate it →
Grantswood Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Birmingham
C
394 students15:1Rate it →
Snow Rogers Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Gardendale
B+
389 students16:1Rate it →
Minor Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Birmingham
D
384 students16:1Rate it →
Brighton School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Brighton
D
336 students20:1Rate it →
Adamsville Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Adamsville
D
288 students20:1Rate it →
Mount Olive Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Mount Olive
A−
286 students17:1Rate it →
Lipscomb Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lipscomb
C−
221 students18:1Rate it →
Brookville Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Graysville
C
211 students20:1Rate it →
West Jefferson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Quinton
C+
111 students16:1Rate it →
The path, start to finish
PK–528 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to A−
6–814 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD to A+
9–1213 high schoolsDepends on your addressD− to B

Forestdale’s public schools are run by Jefferson County School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Jefferson County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 55 schools · 35,444 students · 17.5 per teacher (AL 17.0)
$12,625AL $13,926 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading36%
State average 47.3% · 18262 students tested
Math15%
State average 27.2% · 18411 students tested

Forestdale vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Alabama towns that share Forestdale’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ForestdaleCJefferson County
AdamsvilleCJefferson County
BirminghamDBirmingham City
BrooksideCJefferson County

2 of the 3 neighbors share Jefferson County with Forestdale, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Forestdale

54 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Alabama’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Forestdalein other towns
Fultondale Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fultondale
C
889 students20:1Rate it →
Chalkville Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Birmingham
D
818 students18:1Rate it →
Pinson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Pinson
753 students17:1Rate it →
McCalla Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bessemer
C+
752 students19:1Rate it →
Bryant Park Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Birmingham
C+
707 students17:1Rate it →
Gardendale Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Gardendale
B+
700 students19:1Rate it →
Bryan Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Morris
A−
697 students17:1Rate it →
McAdory Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · McCalla
C+
617 students17:1Rate it →
Warrior Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Warrior
B
612 students20:1Rate it →
Clay Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clay
C+
606 students17:1Rate it →
Hueytown Primary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Hueytown
601 students15:1Rate it →
UW Clemon Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Adamsville
D
590 students17:1Rate it →
Oak Grove Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bessemer
B+
576 students17:1Rate it →
Center Point Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Birmingham
557 students17:1Rate it →
Bagley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Dora
A−
550 students19:1Rate it →
Pleasant Grove Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Pleasant Grove
C−
524 students18:1Rate it →
Irondale Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Irondale
C
435 students17:1Rate it →
Grantswood Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Birmingham
C
394 students15:1Rate it →
Snow Rogers Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Gardendale
B+
389 students16:1Rate it →
Minor Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Birmingham
D
384 students16:1Rate it →
Brighton School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Brighton
D
336 students20:1Rate it →
Mount Olive Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Mount Olive
A−
286 students17:1Rate it →
Lipscomb Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lipscomb
C−
221 students18:1Rate it →
Brookville Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Graysville
C
211 students20:1Rate it →
West Jefferson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Quinton
C+
111 students16:1Rate it →
Hueytown Intermediate School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Hueytown
C+
527 students20:1Rate it →
Concord Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Bessemer
C+
400 students18:1Rate it →
Adamsville Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Adamsville
D
288 students20:1Rate it →
Corner Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Warrior
B
437 students20:1Rate it →
ClayChalkville Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Trussville
C−
952 students16:1Rate it →
Fultondale High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Birmingham
C−
848 students17:1Rate it →
McAdory Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · McCalla
C
841 students17:1Rate it →
Oak Grove High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Bessemer
C
777 students18:1Rate it →
Hueytown Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hueytown
C−
755 students16:1Rate it →
Pleasant Grove High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Pleasant Grove
D
752 students16:1Rate it →
Bragg Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Gardendale
B−
731 students18:1Rate it →
North Jefferson Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Kimberly
B−
669 students20:1Rate it →
Minor Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Adamsville
D
668 students18:1Rate it →
Rudd Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Pinson
C−
648 students18:1Rate it →
Erwin Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Center Point
D
585 students18:1Rate it →
Irondale Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Irondale
C
430 students16:1Rate it →
Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Pleasant Grove
A+
345 students18:1Rate it →
ClayChalkville High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Pinson
D
1,377 students17:1Rate it →
McAdory High School
High · Grades 9–12 · McCalla
C−
1,259 students18:1Rate it →
Hueytown High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Hueytown
C−
1,200 students17:1Rate it →
Shades Valley High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Irondale
B
1,094 students17:1Rate it →
Gardendale High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Gardendale
C+
1,076 students18:1Rate it →
Pinson Valley High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Pinson
D
1,025 students16:1Rate it →
Minor High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Adamsville
D−
978 students17:1Rate it →
Mortimer Jordan High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Kimberly
C+
886 students18:1Rate it →
Center Point High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Center Point
D−
685 students15:1Rate it →
Corner High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Dora
C+
492 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Glad Tidings Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Birmingham
Private · Religious
69 students9:1Rate it →
Rock City Preparatory Christian School
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Birmingham
Private · Religious
26 students5:1Rate it →

Questions about Forestdale’s schools

Are Forestdale’s schools good?

On Alabama’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Forestdale children attend score below 69% of Alabama’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #133 of 187 Alabama towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 15%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Forestdale in?

Jefferson County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 35,444 students in 55 schools (2024–25).

Where do Forestdale kids go to high school?

One of 13 high schools, depending on your address: ClayChalkville High School, McAdory High School, Hueytown High School, Shades Valley High School, Gardendale High School, Pinson Valley High School, Minor High School, Mortimer Jordan High School, Fultondale High School, Oak Grove High School, Pleasant Grove High School, Center Point High School and Corner High School.

What is Forestdale’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Jefferson County School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Alabama.

How much does Forestdale spend per student?

$12,625 in Jefferson County School District (FY2024), against $13,926 across Alabama. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Forestdale?

Yes: Glad Tidings Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–6, 69 students) and Rock City Preparatory Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 26 students).

Parents talk

What Forestdale families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Forestdale → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Alabama. Stars are from neighbors.