Benjamin Russell High School

Q: Is Benjamin Russell High School a good school?

Benjamin Russell High School ranks 94 th of 378 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Benjamin Russell High School is a public high school located in Alexander City, Alabama, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 812. The school is part of the Alexander City School District, which is ranked 65 out of 137 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Benjamin Russell High School has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, ranging from a high of 61 out of 353 Alabama high schools in 2014-2015 to a low of 210 out of 367 in 2021-2022. The school's SchoolDigger rating has also varied, with a high of 4 stars out of 5 in several years and a low of 2 stars in 2021-2022. The school has performed particularly well in certain student subgroups, such as Female Students, African American Students, and Hispanic Students, ranking in the top 100 schools in the state for these groups in recent years. However, the school has struggled with its Special Education student population, ranking in the bottom quarter of Alabama high schools for this subgroup.

The school's proficiency rates in Summative Assessments for 11th-grade students have been mixed, with mathematics proficiency ranging from 17.39% to 23.5%, science proficiency ranging from 20.11% to 36%, and English proficiency ranging from 19.54% to 30.81% over the past few years. These proficiency rates are generally on par with or slightly above the Alexander City district and state averages, but there is room for improvement, especially in mathematics. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 38.18% to 58.61% over the past few years, and has fluctuated in its performance in the Low Socioeconomic Status Students subgroup.

Detail:

Public 9-12

225 Heard Blvd
Alexander City, AL 35010-2702

(256) 234-8611

District: Alexander City

SchoolDigger Rank:
94^th of 378 Alabama High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,158

Feeder schools for Benjamin Russell High School:

Elementary:	Jim Pearson Elementary School
	Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School
Middle:	Alexander City Middle School
	William L Radney Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.4

Number of students: 812

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.9%

African American:

38.4%

Hispanic:

9.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 38.2%

See top rated Alabama high schools

Compare Benjamin Russell High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Benjamin Russell High School ranks better than 75.1% of high schools in Alabama. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 67.35. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Benjamin Russell High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (46.9%), African American (38.4%), Hispanic (9.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 38.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Benjamin Russell High School is 15.4. (See more...)

Compare Benjamin Russell High School employs 52.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Benjamin Russell High School is $10,158.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Benjamin Russell High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Benjamin Russell High School 94^th of 378 Alabama public high schools. (See Benjamin Russell High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Alexander City:

SchoolDigger ranks Alexander City 65^th of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Benjamin Russell High School

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Rank History for all students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2004	68.69	90^th	357	74.8%
2005	71.84	69^th	359	80.8%
2006	65.04	102^nd	357	71.4%
2007	74.74	68^th	358	81.0%
2008	62.74	120^th	359	66.6%
2009	62.74	117^th	357	67.2%
2010	71.86	70^th	358	80.4%
2011	59.61	152^nd	360	57.8%
2012	47.16	236^th	358	34.1%
2013	55.78	180^th	358	49.7%
2014	64.53	106^th	358	70.4%
2015	75.24	61^st	353	82.7%
2016	67.06	90^th	351	74.4%
2017	36.90	215^th	353	39.1%
2018	66.50	114^th	356	68.0%
2019	63.61	130^th	366	64.5%
2021	52.15	155^th	371	58.2%
2022	39.01	210^th	367	42.8%
2023	63.12	116^th	371	68.7%
2024	67.35	94^th	378	75.1%

See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	8.95	36^th	40	10.0%
2024	82.34	7^th	56	87.5%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2018	51.62	57^th	160	64.4%
2019	54.71	62^nd	171	63.7%
2021	33.95	132^nd	196	32.7%
2022	65.85	45^th	169	73.4%
2023	34.26	114^th	182	37.4%
2024	26.59	155^th	198	21.7%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	20.34	270^th	315	14.3%
2018	51.09	171^st	349	51.0%
2019	54.36	156^th	358	56.4%
2021	31.16	251^st	361	30.5%
2022	33.98	242^nd	361	33.0%
2023	45.91	170^th	349	51.3%
2024	71.12	77^th	375	79.5%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	34.92	218^th	343	36.4%
2018	60.98	134^th	347	61.4%
2019	53.42	164^th	354	53.7%
2021	69.85	85^th	359	76.3%
2022	45.45	187^th	367	49.0%
2023	68.73	98^th	358	72.6%
2024	68.79	91^st	366	75.1%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	36.94	205^th	339	39.5%
2018	68.14	100^th	350	71.4%
2019	69.74	94^th	357	73.7%
2021	33.52	236^th	366	35.5%
2022	31.78	244^th	366	33.3%
2023	51.24	148^th	358	58.7%
2024	62.57	115^th	368	68.8%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	26.32	156^th	189	17.5%
2018	61.28	58^th	223	74.0%
2019	56.77	74^th	224	67.0%
2021	29.70	169^th	228	25.9%
2022	36.11	134^th	222	39.6%
2023	63.56	49^th	224	78.1%
2024	58.23	64^th	231	72.3%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2022	57.43	40^th	114	64.9%
2023	74.98	24^th	122	80.3%
2024	43.04	67^th	139	51.8%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	38.23	132^nd	230	42.6%
2018	73.09	65^th	300	78.3%
2019	68.51	79^th	313	74.8%
2021	58.78	97^th	319	69.6%
2022	44.52	159^th	326	51.2%
2023	65.73	94^th	317	70.3%
2024	63.55	90^th	325	72.3%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Benjamin Russell High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	1131	1131
1989	713	425	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1139
1990	715	441	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1157
1991	672	411	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1084
1992	663	405	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1070
1993	640	400	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	1046
1994	632	369	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1004
1995	688	395	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1087
1996	688	395	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1087
1997	655	364	4	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1025
1998	640	314	8	2	2	n/a	n/a	0	966
1999	636	295	9	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	943
2000	668	324	9	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	1005
2001	643	330	10	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	987
2002	606	330	7	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	949
2003	606	330	7	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	949
2004	597	356	8	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	963
2005	593	369	5	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	972
2006	596	398	5	8	2	n/a	n/a	1	1010
2007	592	412	3	14	3	n/a	n/a	2	1026
2008	590	399	3	16	4	n/a	n/a	0	1012
2009	605	392	6	15	4	n/a	n/a	0	1022
2010	622	416	6	18	2	n/a	n/a	2	1066
2011	616	390	5	0	4	0	1	0	1016
2012	588	395	6	16	1	0	2	0	1008
2013	583	392	3	14	0	0	3	0	995
2014	583	366	3	19	0	0	3	0	974
2015	575	366	7	22	0	0	4	0	974
2016	562	350	10	19	0	0	3	0	944
2017	524	331	6	25	0	1	5	0	892
2018	488	328	11	46	1	2	0	0	876
2019	514	318	14	2	7	5	0	0	860
2020	509	295	15	5	8	5	0	0	837
2021	470	309	14	2	7	5	0	0	807
2022	410	277	13	64	0	0	23	0	787
2023	381	312	10	79	0	0	30	0	812

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Benjamin Russell High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1131	50.0	22.6	0
1989	1139	50.5	22.5	n/a
1990	1157	52.5	22.0	0
1991	1084	53.5	20.2	n/a
1992	1070	54.0	19.8	n/a
1993	1046	56.0	18.7	n/a
1994	1004	57.0	17.6	n/a
1995	1087	58.8	18.5	n/a
1996	1087	58.8	18.5	n/a
1997	1025	58.0	17.7	12.1
1998	966	61.4	15.7	6.9
1999	943	61.0	15.5	12
2000	1005	59.0	17.0	17.4
2001	987	61.0	16.2	20.4
2002	949	67.5	14.1	29.9
2003	949	67.5	14.1	29.9
2004	963	64.0	15.0	29.8
2005	972	63.7	15.3	35.3
2006	1010	67.0	15.1	41.6
2007	1026	62.5	16.4	39.8
2008	1012	70.0	14.5	37
2009	1022	64.2	15.7	39.7
2010	1066	61.0	17.4	46
2011	1016	67.7	14.9	45.5
2012	1008	59.0	17.0	50.6
2013	995	65.0	15.3	44.4
2014	974	62.2	15.6	58
2015	974	60.0	16.2	52.7
2016	944	58.0	16.2	46.5
2017	892	56.0	15.9	44.6
2018	876	50.8	17.2	45.5
2019	860	51.6	16.6	50.1
2020	837	52.2	16.0	53.8
2021	807	52.3	15.4	58.6
2022	787	40.0	19.6	38.4
2023	812	52.5	15.4	38.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Benjamin Russell High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1131	50.0	22.6	0
1989	1139	50.5	22.5	n/a
1990	1157	52.5	22.0	0
1991	1084	53.5	20.2	n/a
1992	1070	54.0	19.8	n/a
1993	1046	56.0	18.7	n/a
1994	1004	57.0	17.6	n/a
1995	1087	58.8	18.5	n/a
1996	1087	58.8	18.5	n/a
1997	1025	58.0	17.7	12.1
1998	966	61.4	15.7	6.9
1999	943	61.0	15.5	12
2000	1005	59.0	17.0	17.4
2001	987	61.0	16.2	20.4
2002	949	67.5	14.1	29.9
2003	949	67.5	14.1	29.9
2004	963	64.0	15.0	29.8
2005	972	63.7	15.3	35.3
2006	1010	67.0	15.1	41.6
2007	1026	62.5	16.4	39.8
2008	1012	70.0	14.5	37
2009	1022	64.2	15.7	39.7
2010	1066	61.0	17.4	46
2011	1016	67.7	14.9	45.5
2012	1008	59.0	17.0	50.6
2013	995	65.0	15.3	44.4
2014	974	62.2	15.6	58
2015	974	60.0	16.2	52.7
2016	944	58.0	16.2	46.5
2017	892	56.0	15.9	44.6
2018	876	50.8	17.2	45.5
2019	860	51.6	16.6	50.1
2020	837	52.2	16.0	53.8
2021	807	52.3	15.4	58.6
2022	787	40.0	19.6	38.4
2023	812	52.5	15.4	38.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Benjamin Russell High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,205 (11.9%)	$8,892 (87.5%)	$10,158

Data source: Alabama Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Benjamin Russell High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 130^th of 366 High schools	Ranks 116^th of 371 High schools	4.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Mathematics (Benjamin Russell High School)	39.7	17.4	22.3%
End of Course Mathematics (Alexander City)	39.7	17.4	22.3%
End of Course Mathematics (Alabama)	42.5	23.6	19%
End of Course Science (Benjamin Russell High School)	43.5	20.1	23.4%
End of Course Science (Alexander City)	43.5	20.1	23.4%
End of Course Science (Alabama)	42.6	31.7	10.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	860	812	5.6%
African American	318	312	1.9%
American Indian	7	0	100%
Asian	14	10	28.6%
Hispanic	2	79	3850%
Pacific Islander	5	0	100%
White	514	381	25.9%
Two or More Races	0	30
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	50.1%	38.2%	11.9%

Schools Near Benjamin Russell High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2024)				Summative Assessment Science (2024)		Summative Assessment English (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Benjamin Russell High School	Public	9-12	225 Heard Blvd	Alexander City	35010	Tallapoosa County	Alexander City	No	No	No	No	(256) 234-8611	812	53	15.4	38.2%	381 (46.9%)	312 (38.4%)	79 (9.7%)	10 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (3.7%)	67.3	94^th of 378 public high schools	75.1%		63.1	116^th of 371 public high schools	68.7%	22				23.5		36.0				30.8	$10,158	$1,205	$8,892
Dadeville High School	Public	6-12	227 Weldon St	Dadeville	36853	Tallapoosa County	Tallapoosa County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 825-7848	522	32	16.3	78.7%	255 (48.9%)	243 (46.6%)	10 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.1%)	19.2	307^th of 378 public high schools	18.8%		38.9	207^th of 371 public high schools	44.2%	100	9.3	27.9	28.8	1.5	15.1	21.5	30.2	38.8	19.4	8.2	$10,217	$1,024	$9,174
Central High School	Public	7-12	97 Coosa County Road 75	Rockford	35136	Coosa County	Coosa County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 377-4384	362	18	20.6	59.4%	174 (48.1%)	164 (45.3%)	18 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	35	243^rd of 378 public high schools	35.7%		35.8	225^th of 371 public high schools	39.4%	18		14.9	22.6	10.2	22.6	22.5		34.2	32.7	20.8	$11,807	$2,893	$8,863

Benjamin Russell High School

Benjamin Russell High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Alexander City:

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Rank History for Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for all students at Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for Female students at Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for Male students at Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for African American students at Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Benjamin Russell High School

Rank History for White students at Benjamin Russell High School

Enrollment information for Benjamin Russell High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Benjamin Russell High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Benjamin Russell High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Benjamin Russell High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Benjamin Russell High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Benjamin Russell High School

Benjamin Russell High School

Dadeville High School

Central High School

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