Birmingham Schools Among Best For Grades K-8: U.S. News

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Some of Birmingham City Schools' elementary and middle schools have been ranked among the best in Alabama, according to a brand-new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

For the inaugural list, U.S. News published rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary and middle schools across the United States.

Schools are ranked at the state and district levels. The best charter schools and best magnet schools ranked as stand-alone categories.

U.S. News ranked W. J. Christian as the highest in the state among schools in the Birmingham system, according to the new list. Christian was ranked 10th among Alabama middle schools. Among elementary schools in the state, Phillips Academy ranked 78th.

Here’s a look at how schools in Birmingham ranked compared with others in the state:

10th: W.J. Christian School
19th: Phillips Academy (Middle School)
78th: Phillips Academy (Elementary School)

Schools were also ranked by district. Here’s how elementary and middle schools in Birmingham City Schools measured up:

1. W.J. Christian School
2. Phillips Academy
3. Wilkerson Middle School
4. Hudson Keight School
5. Ossie Ware Mitchell Middle School
6. South Hampton K8
7. Inglenook School
8. Washington K8
9. Huffman Middle School
10. We Putnam Middle School
11. Bush Hills Steam Academy
12. Green Acres Middle School
13. Hayes K8
14. Jones Valley Middle School
15. Smith Middle School

Here is how U.S. News ranked Jefferson County Schools:

1. Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
2. Corner Middle School
3. Bragg Middle School
4. North Jefferson Middle School
5. Erwin Middle School
6. Irondale Middle School
7. Mcadory Middle School
8. Oak Grove High School
9. Minor Middle School
10. Clay- Chalkville Middle School
11. Brighton School
12. Fultondale High School
13. Hueytown Middle School
14. Pleasant Grove High School
15. Rudd Middle School

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze two areas at each school:

• Math and reading proficiency — or how well students perform on state assessments.
• Math and reading performance — or how well they perform compared with expectations.

The state assessment data used in the rankings is from the 2018-19 school year and, therefore, predates any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on test-taking.

Nationally, California has 5,534 ranked elementary schools — the most of any state — followed by Texas at 4,446; New York at 2,211; Florida at 2,128; and Illinois at 2,038 schools.

California also has the most ranked middle schools with 2,319, followed by Texas at 1,942; Illinois at 1,243; New York at 1,219; and Florida at 997.

See the complete list of 2021’s Best K-8 Schools.