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Schools in Muscle Shoals · Muscle Shoals City School District

Muscle Shoals’s public schools outscore 92% of Alabama districts

In Muscle Shoals, 51% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Alabama average (27%). The grade covers the public school district serving Muscle Shoals, 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.

#10of 187 Alabama townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
63%
▲ 16 pts vs AL 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
51%
▲ 24 pts vs AL 27%
2021–22
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 6 pts vs AL 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.8K
▼ 1% vs AL $13.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.9
AL 17.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
2,979 students on the public path
In brief

Muscle Shoals’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 192 Alabama towns with household incomes within a quarter of Muscle Shoals’s, its schools beat 97%, higher than their 92% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 63% and math 51% in spring 2022, against 47% and 27% statewide; 96% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,759 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 McBride Elementary School, then Muscle Shoals Middle School, then Muscle Shoals High School. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Covenant Christian School (private) is 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 Muscle Shoals’s grade

A Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 92% of Alabama school districts, #10 of 187 Alabama towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Alabama average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Alabama school districts we grade (146)Better than 92%
Lower resultsHigher results
Alabama towns with similar household incomes (192)Better than 97%
AA+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,434 test results and a graduating class of 202 could put Muscle Shoals anywhere from A to A+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Muscle Shoals’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,439 in math, 1,430 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–KHowell Graves PreschoolMuscle Shoals City School DistrictNo scores
3–5McBride Elementary SchoolMuscle Shoals City School DistrictA
6–8Muscle Shoals Middle SchoolMuscle Shoals City School DistrictA
9–12Muscle Shoals High SchoolMuscle Shoals City School DistrictA−

Muscle Shoals’s public schools are run by Muscle Shoals 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.

Muscle Shoals City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,979 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 17.9 per teacher (AL 17.0)
$13,759AL $13,926 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading63%
State average 47.3% · 1430 students tested
Math51%
State average 27.2% · 1439 students tested

Muscle Shoals vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Muscle ShoalsAMuscle Shoals City
SheffieldC−Sheffield City
TuscumbiaB−Tuscumbia City

Every school in Muscle Shoals

7 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).

District schools in Muscle Shoalsby address
Howell Graves Preschool
Elementary · Grades PK–K
356 students19:1Rate it →
Highland Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 1–2
236 students18:1Rate it →
Webster Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 1–2
234 students16:1Rate it →
McBride Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
A
647 students17:1Rate it →
Muscle Shoals Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
642 students16:1Rate it →
Muscle Shoals High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
864 students20:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Covenant Christian School
Grades PK–12 · Tuscumbia
Private · Religious
260 students10:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Muscle Shoals Career Academy).

Questions about Muscle Shoals’s schools

Are Muscle Shoals’s schools good?

By Alabama’s own tests, yes: the public schools Muscle Shoals children attend outscore 92% of Alabama’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #10 of 187 Alabama towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 97%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Muscle Shoals in?

Muscle Shoals City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,979 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Muscle Shoals kids go to high school?

Muscle Shoals High School, with 864 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Muscle Shoals’s graduation rate?

96% of the class of 2023 in Muscle Shoals City School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Alabama.

How much does Muscle Shoals spend per student?

$13,759 in Muscle Shoals City School District (FY2024), against $13,926 across Alabama. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Muscle Shoals?

Yes: Covenant Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 260 students).

Parents talk

What Muscle Shoals families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Muscle Shoals → 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.