D−
Bessemer City School District
Public school districtGrades PK–12
Serves Bessemer.
Students
3,012
Schools
9
Spent per student
$18,309
AL $13,926
Students per teacher
19:1
Free or reduced lunch
79%
Debt
$5.7M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Bessemer City School District
- School Grade D−: better than 1% of Alabama districts
- Math proficiency 19 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 26 pts below the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 25 pts below the state
- Spends 31% more per student than the AL average
- 19 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 11.6% since 2021
- Debt of $5.7M, about $1,883 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Minor.
PK–5Minor Community SchoolJefferson County School District
6–1214 schoolsJefferson County School District
1213 high schoolsJefferson County School District
Test scores vs. AL
2020–21Math proficiency3%
State average 22%
Reading / language arts19%
State average 45.4%
Graduation rate (4-year)66%
State average 90.6%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$18,309 per student · 31% above AL
Spending
Classroom instruction 47%Support & administration 47%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 25%State 45%Federal 30%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
3,409’21
3,246’22
3,012’24
Down 11.6% since 2021.
Students
Black 75%Hispanic 22%Two or more races 2%White 2%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
9 public schools.
Jonesboro Elementary School
D474 students17:1
Charles F Hard Elementary School
D364 students19:1
Greenwood Elementary School
C−290 students22:1
Westhills Elementary School
C−277 students17:1
Abrams Elementary School
D231 students17:1
Bessemer City Middle School
C−616 students21:1
Bessemer City High School
D−760 students22:1
Bessemer Center For Technology
0 students
New Horizon Alternative School
0 students
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.