Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Shelby County

Alabama · Public School District
31
Schools
21,179
Students
$12,606
Per-Pupil Spend
-12% nat'l
41.0%
Free Lunch Rate
-11pp vs nat'l
94.0%
Graduation Rate
+7.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Shelby County is a public school district in Alabama serving 21,179 students across 31 schools. It includes 15 elementary, 6 middle, 9 high schools. Its graduation rate of 94.0% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,606 is below the national average for a US public school district. 41% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 39/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (31)
Middle Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Calera Middle06–08755
Chelsea Middle School06–08951
Columbiana Middle School06–08428
Helena Middle06–081,035
Montevallo Middle School06–08369
Oak Mountain Middle School06–081,175
High Schools9 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Calera High09–121,066
Career Technical Education Center09–120
Chelsea High School09–121,400
Helena High School09–121,418
Montevallo High School09–12506
New Direction06–120
Oak Mountain High School09–121,561
Shelby County High School09–12584
Vincent Middle High School06–12465
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Linda Nolen Learning CenterPK–1259
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,606-12% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
52%
39%
State
51.9%
Local (property tax)
38.9%
Federal
9.2%

Funding is shared between state (52%) and local sources (39%), with limited federal reliance.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
31
Schools
21,179
Students
41%
Free Lunch
$13K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate94.0%
Opportunity Score39/100
StateAlabama →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
94.0% graduation rate — 7.5 points above the national average of 86.5%.
Range of school options
With 31 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Shelby County?
Shelby County has 31 public schools, serving a total of 21,179 students.
What is the graduation rate for Shelby County?
The graduation rate is 94.0%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Shelby County spend per student?
Shelby County spends $12,606 per pupil — 12% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Shelby County?
41% of students in Shelby County qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Shelby County?
No, Shelby County does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Shelby County serve?
Shelby County serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Shelby County?
The median opportunity score across schools in Shelby County is 39/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.