High Schools in Tuscaloosa City

The Tuscaloosa City school district in Alabama is home to three high schools: Northridge High School, Paul W. Bryant High School, and Central High School. While all three schools serve grades 9-12, Northridge High School stands out as the top-performing high school in the district, consistently ranking among the best in the state.

Northridge High School's academic excellence is evident in its strong test scores, with 35.47% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 17.77% for the Tuscaloosa City district and 23.12% for the state of Alabama. Northridge also boasts higher proficiency rates in Science and English, further solidifying its position as the standout school in the area. Additionally, Northridge has a more diverse student population, with a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a more socioeconomically diverse student body.

In contrast, Paul W. Bryant High School and Central High School have student populations that are predominantly African American, with free and reduced lunch rates of 48.46% and 84.04%, respectively. While Central High School has the highest per-student spending at $14,113, it also has the lowest test scores, indicating that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to improving academic outcomes. The student-teacher ratios also vary, with Central High School having the lowest ratio at 16.8, but Northridge High School still outperforming the other schools despite having a higher ratio of 22.2.