Alabama Great Southern Railroad Passenger Depot · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0Fort Payne’s public schools outscore 82% of Alabama districts
34% of students in Fort Payne’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Alabama average (27%). The grade covers the public school district serving Fort Payne, 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.
From Alabama state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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.
Fort Payne’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 244 Alabama towns with household incomes within a quarter of Fort Payne’s, its schools beat 93%, higher than their 82% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 50% and math 34% in spring 2022, against 47% and 27% statewide; 98% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $11,964 per student, against $13,926 across Alabama (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school
From grade 3 the district’s path is Little Ridge Intermediate School, then Fort Payne Middle School, then Fort Payne High School. See the path ↓
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.
What’s behind Fort Payne’s grade
A−: better than 82% of Alabama school districts, #33 of 187 Alabama towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Alabama average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fort Payne, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Fort Payne
Williams Avenue Elementary School
Grades PK · 131 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Fort Payne
Wills Valley Elementary School
Grades K–2 · 738 students · 13:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Fort Payne
Wills Valley Elementary School
Grades K–2 · 738 students · 13:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Fort Payne
Wills Valley Elementary School
Grades K–2 · 738 students · 13:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Fort Payne
Little Ridge Intermediate School
Grades 3–5 · 792 students · 16:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Fort Payne
Little Ridge Intermediate School
Grades 3–5 · 792 students · 16:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Fort Payne
Little Ridge Intermediate School
Grades 3–5 · 792 students · 16:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Fort Payne
Fort Payne Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 741 students · 16:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Fort Payne
Fort Payne Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 741 students · 16:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Fort Payne
Fort Payne Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 741 students · 16:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Fort Payne
Fort Payne High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,106 students · 17:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Fort Payne
Fort Payne High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,106 students · 17:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Fort Payne
Fort Payne High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,106 students · 17:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Fort Payne
Fort Payne High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,106 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Fort Payne’s public schools are run by Fort Payne City 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.
Above the state in reading
Fort Payne vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Alabama towns that share Fort Payne’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Payne | A− | Fort Payne City |
| Hammondville | — | DeKalb County |
| Valley Head | — | DeKalb County |
| Pine Ridge | — | DeKalb County |
Every school in Fort Payne
5 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).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Alternative School).
Questions about Fort Payne’s schools
Are Fort Payne’s schools good?
By Alabama’s own tests, yes: the public schools Fort Payne children attend outscore 82% of Alabama’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #33 of 187 Alabama towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 93%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Fort Payne in?
Fort Payne City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,508 students in 5 schools (2024–25).
Where do Fort Payne kids go to high school?
Fort Payne High School, with 1,106 students; its own test results earn a C+.
What is Fort Payne’s graduation rate?
98% of the class of 2023 in Fort Payne City School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Alabama.
How much does Fort Payne spend per student?
$11,964 in Fort Payne City School District (FY2024), against $13,926 across Alabama. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Fort Payne families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fort Payne → 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.