Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Tuscaloosa City

Alabama · Public School District
20
Schools
11,186
Students
$14,403
Per-Pupil Spend
≈ nat'l avg
58.5%
Free Lunch Rate
+6pp vs nat'l
90.6%
Graduation Rate
+4.1pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Tuscaloosa City is a public school district in Alabama serving 11,186 students across 20 schools. It includes 12 elementary, 4 middle, 4 high schools. Its graduation rate of 90.6% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $14,403 is near the national average for a US public school district. 59% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 32/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (20)
Middle Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Eastwood Middle School06–08758
Northridge Middle School06–08740
Tuscaloosa Magnet School Middle06–08169
Westlawn Middle School06–08534
High Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Central High School09–12783
Northridge High School09–121,145
Paul W Bryant High School09–121,042
Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy09–120
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,403Near national avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
42%
40%
State
42.3%
Local (property tax)
39.7%
Federal
18.0%

Funding is shared between state (42%) and local sources (40%), with notable federal support (18%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
20
Schools
11,186
Students
59%
Free Lunch
$14K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate90.6%
Opportunity Score32/100
StateAlabama →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
90.6% graduation rate — 4.1 points above the national average of 86.5%.
Range of school options
With 20 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 32/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Tuscaloosa City?
Tuscaloosa City has 20 public schools, serving a total of 11,186 students.
What is the graduation rate for Tuscaloosa City?
The graduation rate is 90.6%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Tuscaloosa City spend per student?
Tuscaloosa City spends $14,403 per pupil — 0% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Tuscaloosa City?
59% of students in Tuscaloosa City qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Tuscaloosa City?
No, Tuscaloosa City does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Tuscaloosa City serve?
Tuscaloosa City serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Tuscaloosa City?
The median opportunity score across schools in Tuscaloosa City is 32/100. 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.