Photo: American Diabetio · CC BY-SA 4.0Huntsville’s public schools outscore 60% of Alabama districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Huntsville, 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 97% 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.
Huntsville’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 199 Alabama towns with household incomes within a quarter of Huntsville’s, its schools beat 53%, lower than their 60% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 48% and math 25% in spring 2022, against 47% and 27% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $14,207 per student, against $13,926 across Alabama (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
26 elementary schools, then 11 middle and six high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Randolph School (private), Whitesburg Christian Academy (private), Madison Academy (private), Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School (private), Valley Fellowship Christian Academy (private), St. John Paul II Catholic High School (private), Oakwood Adventist Academy (private), Holy Family Parochial School (private), Grace Lutheran School (private), The Montessori School of Huntsville (private), Willowbrook Weekday Early Education Program (private), Huntsville Christian Academy (private), Julius R Scruggs Child Development Center/Acad (private), First Christian Church Early Childhood Ministry (private), Kla Schools of Huntsville (private), Union Chapel Christian Academy (private), Lincoln Academy (private), Huntsville College Preparatory School (private), Islamic Academy of Huntsville (private), The Montessori Learning Center (private), The Riley Behavioral and Educational Center (private) and The Pinnacle School (private) are in town. Artemis Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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.
What’s behind Huntsville’s grade
B: better than 60% of Alabama school districts, #81 of 187 Alabama towns. Graduation is above the Alabama average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Huntsville, with each school’s own grade.
Huntsville’s public schools are run by Huntsville City School District. Parts of Huntsville (3% of its land) are served by Limestone County instead. 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.
Close to the state in reading
Huntsville vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Alabama towns that share Huntsville’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | B | Huntsville City |
| Triana | A− | Madison County |
| Owens Cross Roads | A− | Madison County |
| Athens | B+ | Athens City |
| Decatur | B | Decatur City |
Every school in Huntsville
66 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: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Child Count Only, Huntsville Center For Technology and Mental Health Center).
Questions about Huntsville’s schools
Are Huntsville’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Alabama: the public schools Huntsville children attend outscore 60% of Alabama’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #81 of 187 Alabama towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 53%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Huntsville in?
Huntsville City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 24,222 students in 44 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Huntsville are served by Limestone County.
Where do Huntsville kids go to high school?
One of 6 high schools, depending on your address: Virgil Grissom High School, Huntsville High School, Columbia High School, Lee High School, Jemison High School and New Century Technology High School.
What is Huntsville’s graduation rate?
93% of the class of 2023 in Huntsville City School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Alabama.
How much does Huntsville spend per student?
$14,207 in Huntsville City School District (FY2024), against $13,926 across Alabama. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Huntsville?
Yes: Randolph School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 1,049 students), Whitesburg Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 893 students), Madison Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 885 students), Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 464 students), Valley Fellowship Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 395 students), St. John Paul II Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 357 students), Oakwood Adventist Academy (religious, grades K–12, 314 students), Holy Family Parochial School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 187 students), Grace Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 180 students), The Montessori School of Huntsville (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 157 students), Willowbrook Weekday Early Education Program (religious, grades PK–K, 136 students), Huntsville Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 124 students), Julius R Scruggs Child Development Center/Acad (religious, grades PK–4, 115 students), First Christian Church Early Childhood Ministry (religious, grades PK–K, 107 students), Kla Schools of Huntsville (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 100 students), Union Chapel Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–7, 80 students), Lincoln Academy (nonsectarian, grades K, 76 students), Huntsville College Preparatory School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 67 students), Islamic Academy of Huntsville (religious, grades PK–6, 56 students), The Montessori Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 47 students), The Riley Behavioral and Educational Center (special education, grades K–6, 24 students) and The Pinnacle School (nonsectarian, grades 7–12, 20 students).
Parents talk
What Huntsville families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Huntsville → 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.