Shelby County School District

410 E College St
Columbiana, AL 35051-0410
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Shelby County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 26 public elementary schools serving 14,297 students in Shelby County School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public elementary schools in Alabama.
Public Elementary Schools in Shelby County School District have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Alabama public elementary school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Alabama public elementary school average of 50% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (AL)
# Schools
33 Schools
1,087 Schools
# Students
20,638 Students
522,452 Students
# Teachers
1,280 Teachers
29,608 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Shelby County School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 145 school districts in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AL)
#18 out of 145 school districts
(Top 20%)
41%
30%
60%
47%
48%
38%
95%
88%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.54
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
1%
% Hispanic
12%
12%
% Black
18%
31%
% White
65%
50%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,609 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,875. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,639 is less than the state median of $12,097. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
This School District
This State (AL)
Total Revenue
$260 MM
$9,671 MM
Spending
$240 MM
$9,086 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,609
$12,875
Spending / Student
$11,639
$12,097

Best Shelby County School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mt Laurel Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1 Jefferson Place
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 682-7230
Gr: K-5 | 498 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #22.
Oak Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5640 Cahaba Valley Rd
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 682-5230
Gr: PK-3 | 675 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #33.
Inverness Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5251 Valleydale Rd
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 682-5240
Gr: PK-3 | 563 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #44.
Oak Mountain Intermediate School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5486 Caldwell Mill Rd
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 682-5220
Gr: 4-5 | 636 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #55.
Forest Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1000 Hornet Parkway
Chelsea, AL 35043
(205) 682-7220
Gr: K-5 | 606 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #66.
Chelsea Park Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
9000 Chelsea Park Trail
Chelsea, AL 35043
(205) 682-6700
Gr: K-5 | 891 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #77.
Helena Intermediate School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3500 Hwy 52
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 682-5520
Gr: 3-5 | 955 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #88.
Oak Mountain Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5650 Cahaba Valley Rd
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 682-5210
Gr: 6-8 | 1,168 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #99.
Chelsea Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2321 Highway 39
Chelsea, AL 35043
(205) 682-7210
Gr: 6-8 | 831 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1010.
Wilsonville Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
71 School St
Wilsonville, AL 35186
(205) 682-6640
Gr: PK-5 | 229 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1111.
Shelby Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
19099 Highway 145
Shelby, AL 35143
(205) 682-6630
Gr: PK-5 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1212.
Vincent Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
40800 Highway 25
Vincent, AL 35178
(205) 682-7320
Gr: PK-5 | 397 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1313.
Helena Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1299 Hillsboro Parkway
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 682-5300
Gr: 6-8 | 957 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1414.
Montevallo Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
171 Jeter Cir
Montevallo, AL 35115
(205) 682-6420
Gr: K-5 | 758 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Calera Intermediate School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
8454 Highway 31 South
Calera, AL 35040
(205) 682-6500
Gr: 3-5 | 747 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Elvin Hill Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
201 Washington St
Columbiana, AL 35051
(205) 682-6620
Gr: K-5 | 534 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1717.
Columbiana Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
222 Joinertown Road
Columbiana, AL 35051
(205) 682-6610
Gr: 6-8 | 428 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #1818.
Montevallo Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
235 Samford St
Montevallo, AL 35115
(205) 682-6410
Gr: 6-8 | 346 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #1919.
Calera Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
9178 Highway 22
Montevallo, AL 35115
(205) 682-6140
Gr: 6-8 | 767 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #2020.
Vincent Middle High School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
42505 Highway 25
Vincent, AL 35178
(205) 682-7300
Gr: 6-12 | 447 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #2121.
Linda Nolen Learning Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2280 Highwy 35
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 682-5800
Gr: PK-12 | 78 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: n/an/a
855 10th St
Calera, AL 35040
(205) 682-6120
Gr: K-2 | 766 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: n/an/a
187 Third St
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 682-5540
Gr: K-2 | 778 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: n/an/a
New Direction
Alternative School
701 Hwy 70
Alabaster, AL 35007
(205) 682-5910
Gr: 6-12
Rank: n/an/a
Star Program Elementary School
Alternative School
2280 Highway 35
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 682-5800
Gr: PK-5
Rank: n/an/a
Star Program Middle School
Alternative School
2280 Highway 35
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 682-5800
Gr: 6-8

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 33 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 20,638 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 35%
  • : 95% (Top 10% in AL)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 41% (Top 20%)
  • : 60% (Top 20%)
  • : 48% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Quick Links