2023 Best Public High Schools in the Birmingham Area

• Birmingham, AL•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  67 reviews

Senior: The Alabama School of Fine Arts has six specialties available for study: Music, Theater, Creative Writing, Visual Arts, Dance, and Math-Science. An applicant must apply and audition for whichever specialty they choose. I am a Music student and as such, can only speak on the education given by the music and the academic faculty. There is a Music Hall with thirteen practice rooms, each equipped with a piano. Our classes consist of the choir, orchestra, ensembles, music theory, aural training, and the jazz band. I feel I have learned much that will prepare me for a musical career. The academic curriculum is rigorous but the teachers still find a way to keep the content uniquely interesting. The school requires focus and a passion for your specialty. Sometimes, the pressure and amount of work can overwhelm but friends can take the edge off. It is easy to make friends as there is such a diverse student body, you are bound to find someone with similar interests. Overall, a good school.... Read 67 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 337

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Mountain Brook City Schools, AL•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  114 reviews

Sophomore: Excellent for Music, Academics, and Sports. Not that diverse, but if you want to get an amazing education, go here. Best school in the state (In my opinion). Also, after reading these reviews, being in the band, and being a white straight male, bullying is apparent, however it is FAR worse in other schools. Overall, 9.5/10, teachers are willing to help, and 25% of them are nice. WARNING: the Administration is ignorant and usually so not listen to students... Read 114 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,043

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Homewood City Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  265 reviews

Sophomore: Academically homewood offers anything you could ask for. Good teachers and extra help easily accessible. Only problem is the counselors don’t do enough 1 on 1 time with students so many are simply oblivious to what programs and classes are available to them. The sports teams are well cared for and our athletic facilities are very up to date. Also, wonderful custodial crew!... Read 265 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,223

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hoover City Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  277 reviews

Senior: I am currently a Senior at Spain Park High School. I enrolled in the school the second semester of my Sophomore year. It was very challenging for me because I was coming from a very small private, Christian School where I had been since 5th grade. I hated leaving my friends, basketball and all things familiar. Spain Park has almost 2000 students whereas my previous school had barely 200. I was So nervous and unsure of myself. Unfortunately, I was there for less than 3 weeks before the pandemic hit and the world shut down. Virtual learning was OK but I didn't have a chance to meet many people. It wasn't until my Junior year that I felt some sense of normality despite masks and social distancing once school started. Fortunately, I got accepted into the District's Cybersecurity program, met new people and formed relationships with my teachers and peers . Overall, Spain Park is a great school with many opportunities for any type of student. I am glad that I changed schools!... Read 277 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,634

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Vestavia Hills City Schools, AL•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  274 reviews

Alum: What a great experience & handled the pandemic with wisdom & common sense. I was given the full high school experience! I had great academics & fun experiences in sports, community events, and activities.... Read 274 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,514

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hoover City Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  500 reviews

Senior: Coming from a very small and low-populated town, moving to Hoover High School was a great way for me to meet tons of new people with all sorts of different backgrounds. No one is the same and you have countless opportunities to get into academics and sports that you desire. I personally found adapting to Hoover High difficult once I moved to Hoover because I was from a different part of town, although I did enjoy my time, I got to be apart of many clubs and organizations, I also got the chance to have better teachers and meet new friends. Something that could be better about Hoover is the number of activities they hold for students, Hoover is a massive school with few outside activities like school festivals and more! Overall, I loved my time at Hoover, and although I did struggle to adapt when I first moved, the diversity among the school is what makes it such a great place with the caring staff!... Read 500 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,766

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Shelby County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  303 reviews

Senior: As a student from Oak Mountain, I will say that this school is lovely. Great staff and teachers, wonderful clubs and students who are engaged, and who can forget the lovely pep rallies that they have, and including the fun weeks of dress up? It's amazing. But I feel that the food could be a little better and maybe seasoned a lot more. And the diversity? Well.... among the teachers is not good at all. And another the students? Not so well either, but overall a great experience!... Read 303 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,531

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Trussville City Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  271 reviews

Senior: HTHS gives their students an amazing chance at a wonderful future! We have excellent teachers and staff who help us achieve our personal, athletic, and academic goals. They realize college is not for everyone, so they don't push that on the people who would rather earn a trade or a skill. Which we all know are equally as important as a career that requires college. Our advisors plug into our lives and make us aware of opportunities that can help improve our resume, increase our grades and give us a jump start in the direction we are headed. Being apart of our softball program has trained me to become a better person on and off the field. My coaches keep a close eye on my grades and continuously push me out of my comfort zone so that I can continue to improve. We have work outs, practices, and trainers to assist us with both. Our team has been State Champions for the past two years and it did not come without hard work and dedication. Skills we learn on the field and in the classroom.... Read 271 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,550

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Alabaster City Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  972 reviews

Senior: My experience at Thompson has been great! I’ve met teachers that truly care about my well-being and academic success. There are many and diverse academic opportunities held hear at Thompson like AP classes, many electives and art programs or academies. We have very diverse facilities like our sports facilities, our performing arts center, and the health science room. Although our school holds very diverse opportunities, a lot of our teachers are coaches and they don’t teach as well and teachers that aren’t coaches. Our student body is very diverse, but it is not represented by our student government programs or other clubs within the school.... Read 972 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,098

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Pelham City Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  283 reviews

Junior: Although I have not graduated yet, I have had a pleasant experience at Pelham High School. All the staff and administration are so involved and do their best to make sure the students are not only prepared for the future in whatever we may choose, but ensure that we have a positive experience. Through the pandemic the teachers have sacrificed so much to make sure we are still learning and working towards our goals. The school provides countless classes and opportunities to prepare/prep students for college, such as AP classes, ACT study sessions, and dull enrollment. They create a fun and inclusive environment for all students with clubs, sports, academics, etc. I’m proud to be a Pelham Panther! Go ham!... Read 283 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,106

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Shelby County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  152 reviews

Senior: Helena High School is a beautiful school. The school is architecturally beautiful but also on the inside. From the students and the families they represent to the faculty and staff and their dedication to the students and their careers. Helena High sits in a small community of very involved families. It had been a great place to go through school K-12th. During a time when school safety and academic success has so much weight placed on it, Helena High has risen to the challenge. I am thankful that I have been blessed to be a part of such an incredible atmosphere.... Read 152 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,373

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Jefferson County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  125 reviews

Junior: Overall I’ve had a great experience at Mortimer Jordan. It’s been a great, welcoming environment. There’s obviously problems but I don’t think any of them are big enough to take away for the fact that it’s been great. My only issue comes with the administration. I feel that there is a disconnect between the administration and the student body. The administration tends to over look when we say we have a problem at the school, and often times just assume we are a certain way because we’re teenagers.... Read 125 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 834

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Jefferson County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  341 reviews

Senior: I enrolled at Shades Valley High during covid when everyone was in quarantine. While in quarantine i have grown to learn my academics go high than being taught in person. Even in quarantine Shades Valley has taught me the great lengths that I can go to with my academics and the challenges that awaited were conquerable. Throughout the years of being a Mountie, I have grown to be grateful for the teachers and friends that i have gained and lost. I have experienced many activities during the school year such as in-school plays, pep rallies, and school spirit weeks. Shades Valley has been an adventure and I look forward to ending my senior year with an excellent bang!... Read 341 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,211

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Leeds City Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  127 reviews

Junior: Personally moving from California to Alabama was a great change and impact to me but with the help of my cousin, I got to fit right in at Leeds High School. Overall, besides the other schools connected to it, their building is the biggest out of the city and even though it's normal to get lost, cleaning is very tidy. The halls are usually quiet and my favorite thing about it all is the cafeteria and the auditorium which is like a move theater. The teachers are great depending on which classes you attend but most are really amazing and friendly. In our school, we have some unique classes which for others might be considered college ready due to our school having Dual Enrollment and have classes which you would see in colleges/universities. The only thing I considered they would change would be the gym as in even though it's huge, not many people use it as their class and when it comes to the cafeteria, I feel like the staff should consider more chairs and grade/class arrangements.... Read 127 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 567

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Shelby County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  221 reviews

Alum: Amazing! I loved the school, staff, and all of my amazing friends that helped me get to where I am today!... Read 221 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,396

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• St Clair County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  132 reviews

Alum: As a former student, the school has its strengths such as academics and its arts program, but falls behind in its facilities, funding, and football programs. If the school district were to push more funding towards the well being of students through food, supplies, and extra curricular activities, I feel it would be one of the strongest in its county and district.... Read 132 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 724

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Birmingham City Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  313 reviews

Junior: I love my school's authenticness and how the school is a second family for me. The school has some very impactful teachers who are more like counselors. You can go to these teachers about everything from school drama to family problems. Its always good as a teen, to be able to come to a responsible adult about a situation. These impactful teachers are the ones that life your head when it's down or give you a pat on the back when you need one. Although my school is what many may consider large we are a tight family. After the tragic death of a senior at my school, we all had each other's back through it all. When student's loved ones pass we as a school try to make it a mission to help each other emotionally. Being that we are an academic driven school we put our grades before anything else. The school spirit at my school is like no other! Our school supports each other in everything we do. Our bond is authentic, we all want to succeed!... Read 313 reviews

• grade B

• Students 727

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Shelby County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  149 reviews

Senior: All throughout my four years at Shelby County HIgh I had a great experience. All of the teachers are very personable and caring for each of the students. The school as a whole has a fantastic school body and community to uphold great activities and other projects. I would recommend Shelby High to anyone!... Read 149 reviews

• grade B

• Students 529

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Jefferson County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  209 reviews

Senior: I loved all the memories I made at GHS. I love the soccer team and the coaches. I love how GHS makes you feel welcomed. The teachers at GHS are always willing to help every student. I have made many friends that I will take with me into the future. Some of my fondest memories is when I won the Golden boot award and MVP award for the soccer team my JUNIOR year. I have also got the opportunity to play with my younger brother. The teacher and coaches always push every student to do their best in everything they do. We are also taught we are a representation of GHS in everything we do.... Read 209 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,005

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Shelby County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  153 reviews

Senior: While I still attend Calera High School, it is the most organized and diverse school you could attend in the Shelby county area. The faculty cares about you and helping you. They think about what is best for you, when making schedules changes. Overall while attending this school, I love everything about this school. I also played varsity softball here at Calera High, it is the best sports environment I have ever been in.... Read 153 reviews

• grade B

• Students 970

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• St Clair County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.4 out of 5  147 reviews

Junior: I have multiple opinions of Moody. It really is a fun place- mostly if you are a football player or cheerleader. I’ve seen that Moody falls under the all too cliche group of schools that glorifies the football team- and the football team only. Every other extracurricular or sport is so severely underfunded and unrecognized that students are charged ridiculous amounts of money to participate or the program never gets off the ground. Some truly talented students come through this school and are not offered the opportunities they deserve. I love the staff and everyone has a way of making high school fun, but this school has room for improvement nonetheless. We recently have increased the property tax ad velorem so hopefully this helps the issue. My teachers are incredible and I only wish the school could do more for them. The curriculum is helpful and I feel adequately prepared for college. Overall, while moody is not without its flaws, I have enjoyed my high school experience at Moody.... Read 147 reviews

• grade B

• Students 686

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Blount County Schools, AL•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  25 reviews

Junior: Southeastern is a small but growing school with lots of opportunities for all of its students. The teachers are determined to teach the kids the needed curriculum and even more. Due to its size, it makes everyone seem like family and had made me grow close to all of my teachers and peers making it easier to connect and learn from each other. The school also has many great organizations. I am part of the Ambassadors program and Beta Club, both of them help me gain skills important for my future in college and career.... Read 25 reviews

• grade B

• Students 830

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Shelby County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  54 reviews

Other: My experience at Montevallo was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed my 2 years there. I made lots of friends and met my best friend there. If I could do it all over I would.... Read 54 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 437

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Jefferson County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  156 reviews

Alum: I enjoyed my time at Pinson for the most part. I liked most of my teachers. Very few did I not get along with. I can count several that put in extra work for games and programs to help students understand a concept, plan parties for the students' enjoyment, and understand when a break was needed. Several of my teachers allowed me to enjoy learning again, especially my Environmental Science and Intro to Biotech teachers, as well as my beloved theater teacher. As a recent senior graduate, I feel that I will deeply miss my time at Pinson Valley High, even despite its poor planning of events and various issues. Maybe I'll even come to miss the day the whole Fine Arts department rushed to put buckets onstage together to catch rain falling from a hole in the roof. Though it was bad circumstances, we managed to come together and crack jokes about the situation. I'd say the people I met, I will miss most. Pinson will hold a place in my heart, even if I was eager to leave by this spring.... Read 156 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 1,036

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• St Clair County Schools, AL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.48 out of 5  103 reviews

Alum: I enjoyed my time at SCCHS, but I believe there could be improvement. Considering the vast amount of diversity within the school, this was an excellent school that provided equal opportunities without discrimination. One thing that needs significant work is preparing students for college. The lack of academic readiness is something that has affected many alums to this day. Although the staff was amazing and willing to cooperate with students, the lack of educational funding led to students becoming non-prepared. Teachers were not given the appropriate resources to outreach into college readiness, this resulting in a fall back to upcoming college students.... Read 103 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 602

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1