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Pell City High School

Summary:

Pell City High School is a public high school in Pell City, Alabama, serving 1,171 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the St Clair County school district, which is ranked 53 out of 137 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Pell City High School has a higher percentage of white students (78.14%) compared to nearby schools, which range from 58.48% to 84.73% white students. The school also has a higher percentage of African American students (13.83%) than the surrounding schools. However, Pell City High School's test scores are generally lower than the state averages and the nearby schools, such as Springville High School, Leeds High School, and Moody High School. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 37.76% to 55.08% over the past few years, and a higher student-teacher ratio compared to the nearby schools.

Pell City High School's statewide ranking has declined over the years, from 77th out of 353 Alabama high schools in 2016-2017 to 199th out of 378 in 2023-2024, suggesting a potential decline in academic performance. The school's performance also varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Hispanic students performing relatively well but special education and low socioeconomic status students performing poorly. Addressing the school's resource-related issues, such as the high student-teacher ratio and lower spending per student, could potentially help improve the school's outcomes and bring it closer to the performance levels of its nearby counterparts.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1300 Cogswell Ave
       Pell City, AL  35125-1299

(205) 338-2250

District: Pell City

SchoolDigger Rank:
199th of 378 Alabama High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,837 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  19.1 Help
Number of students:  1,171

Racial breakdown:

White:
78.1%
African American:
13.8%
Hispanic:
4.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  55.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Pell City High School ranks worse than 52.6% of high schools in Alabama. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 45.4. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Pell City High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (78.1%), African American (13.8%), Hispanic (4.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 55.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pell City High School is 19.1. (See more...)
Help
Compare Pell City High School employs 61.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pell City High School is $9,837.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pell City High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Pell City High School 199th of 378 Alabama public high schools. (See Pell City High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Pell City:

SchoolDigger ranks Pell City 53rd of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Pell City High School.

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Rank History for Pell City High School

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Rank History for all students at Pell City High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 48.32 200th 357 44.0%
2005 47.14 216th 359 39.8%
2006 31.08 306th 357 14.3%
2007 39.43 253rd 358 29.3%
2008 47.66 215th 359 40.1%
2009 43.35 237th 357 33.6%
2010 45.21 229th 358 36.0%
2011 50.83 208th 360 42.2%
2012 47.84 228th 358 36.3%
2013 56.23 175th 358 51.1%
2014 49.72 178th 358 50.3%
2015 60.77 113th 353 68.0%
2016 59.53 124th 351 64.7%
2017 70.94 77th 353 78.2%
2018 70.17 102nd 356 71.3%
2019 54.13 171st 366 53.3%
2021 49.38 165th 371 55.5%
2022 56.29 136th 367 62.9%
2023 59.89 123rd 371 66.8%
2024 45.40 199th 378 47.4%
See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Pell City High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 38.38 58th 83 30.1%
2018 62.42 42nd 160 73.8%
2019 52.33 66th 171 61.4%
2021 36.94 125th 196 36.2%
2022 37.62 99th 169 41.4%
2023 40.36 92nd 182 49.5%
2024 28.89 148th 198 25.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pell City High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 76.71 42nd 315 86.7%
2018 65.66 97th 349 72.2%
2019 39.89 212th 358 40.8%
2021 58.31 130th 361 64.0%
2022 49.50 161st 361 55.4%
2023 55.75 122nd 349 65.0%
2024 51.14 155th 375 58.7%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Pell City High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 75.42 71st 343 79.3%
2018 65.52 118th 347 66.0%
2019 49.35 185th 354 47.7%
2021 54.47 146th 359 59.3%
2022 54.70 148th 367 59.7%
2023 60.41 125th 358 65.1%
2024 48.21 166th 366 54.6%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Pell City High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 63.86 98th 339 71.1%
2018 71.54 82nd 350 76.6%
2019 56.40 155th 357 56.6%
2021 42.91 193rd 366 47.3%
2022 56.53 135th 366 63.1%
2023 55.66 131st 358 63.4%
2024 40.69 216th 368 41.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Pell City High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 54.42 57th 189 69.8%
2018 50.96 87th 223 61.0%
2019 71.93 41st 224 81.7%
2021 53.71 72nd 228 68.4%
2022 38.42 125th 222 43.7%
2023 53.29 76th 224 66.1%
2024 44.61 101st 231 56.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Pell City High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 23.11 86th 103 16.5%
2022 80.11 17th 114 85.1%
2024 66.72 39th 139 71.9%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Pell City High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 51.03 91st 230 60.4%
2018 51.45 126th 300 58.0%
2019 36.61 200th 313 36.1%
2021 37.03 194th 319 39.2%
2022 44.07 162nd 326 50.3%
2023 47.30 142nd 317 55.2%
2024 33.65 213th 325 34.5%
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.

Pell City High School Test Scores
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Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
25%

25%

0%

25%

25%

  

Reviews:
by a teacher
Monday, March 21, 2016

Open Quote Pell City High School does a great job offering students a variety of courses that prepare them for college and their careers. Pell City offers Project Lead the Way Biomedical and Engineering classes, Health Science and Sports Medicine classes, VoAg classes, Career Tech classes and a variety of Core courses ranging from general education to Advanced Placement. In addition to the courses offered, there are numerous activities that students can become involved in including athletics, a wonderful band, an amazing JROTC program (#1 in the state), and a variety of service, academic, and competitive clubs. The academic course work is rigorous and the teachers really care about their students. The administration does a wonderful job and are very good leaders. The guidance office does a great job helping students find scholarship opportunities and helping them set goals for their school careers. As with any high school, students are going to get out of it what they put in. For those striving to succeed, PCHS gives them every opportunity to do so. Go Panthers! Close Quote


by a citizen
Monday, February 15, 2016

Open Quote This school is working very hard to improve and provide learning opportunities for all students- not just the college-bound AP student. I believe the education a student has the OPPORTUNITY to earn at PCHS is second to none, but student apathy and lack of parental support for the school and the teachers/administration are the biggest hurdles here. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, July 29, 2013

Open Quote This school has not had a stable environment the past several years. There has been a high teacher turnover rate and low teacher morale. Very inconsistent discipline, a lot of fighting, bullying, open defiance to teachers, etc. The entire focus of the school has been on the football program. The bathrooms are filthy, the lunches are not edible. It has gone down hill. There are enough resources and funding for this school district. There is no excuse. Some of the teachers are very dedicated. The good teachers are unrecognized and appear to do the work of several people. There are some teachers who are extremely unprofessional. Nothing is done to address problems until a crisis occurs. The special education classes are overcrowded. Students cannot receive individual help. I would homeschool or go with private school. Close Quote


by a citizen
Monday, July 25, 2011

Open Quote The discipline at Pell City High School has deteriorated over the past 10 years substantially. The administrators from the superintendent down to the principal/vice principals will not crack the whip to get a grip on the situation. Instead they wish to brush it under the rug or take a "it's not really that bad" approach. The result is the discipline problem students are making things bad for the good students and the staff. Pell City at one time had good discipline but the administration has become too permissive and the result speaks for itself.

Also, the school is filthy. Although an addition or two has been completed the overall cleanliness of the facility is abysmal. That can be directly attributed to the lack of funding and prioritization given to custodial and maintenance in the district. If the saying, "appearance is everything" is true then it makes me ashamed to be from Pell City when visitors see the state of cleanliness at our schools and the lack of landscaping/maintenance. There is no excuse (including "lack of funds") for this condition---period. The BOE and the superintendent should get as interested in facility and grounds appearances as they do about trying to have a winning football team.

Pell City's focus on academics, nice facilities, and discipline ended when Dr. Nicholson and Dr. Jane Cobia left. All this administration and BOE is focused on is sports and lip service to problems. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Pell City High School

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Compare
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 908 908
1989 748 154 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 905
1990 730 143 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 875
1991 723 150 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 877
1992 736 173 1 4 0 n/a n/a -12 902
1993 825 158 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 986
1994 856 151 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1008
1995 949 138 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1090
1996 949 138 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1090
1997 928 139 2 2 3 n/a n/a 0 1074
1998 889 152 2 4 3 n/a n/a 0 1050
1999 890 130 8 2 2 n/a n/a 0 1032
2000 907 147 5 5 2 n/a n/a 0 1066
2001 878 149 4 9 3 n/a n/a 0 1043
2002 882 170 3 12 1 n/a n/a 0 1068
2003 882 170 3 12 1 n/a n/a 0 1068
2004 924 154 6 15 1 n/a n/a 0 1100
2005 1022 151 4 12 0 n/a n/a 0 1189
2006 1028 172 3 12 1 n/a n/a 0 1216
2007 1031 152 6 17 3 n/a n/a 0 1209
2008 1020 165 2 15 3 n/a n/a 0 1205
2009 1011 187 5 20 4 n/a n/a 0 1227
2010 1056 180 5 23 3 n/a n/a 0 1267
2011 1037 189 4 19 2 0 1 0 1252
2012 1051 173 9 20 3 0 1 0 1257
2013 1049 157 7 18 2 0 8 0 1241
2014 990 154 8 23 2 0 10 0 1187
2015 966 163 7 23 1 0 7 0 1167
2016 974 148 7 28 0 1 6 0 1164
2017 964 163 9 30 0 0 3 0 1169
2018 934 146 10 36 0 0 3 0 1129
2019 958 144 7 35 1 0 2 0 1147
2020 913 152 9 41 1 0 5 0 1121
2021 917 153 16 38 0 1 5 0 1130
2022 926 155 14 45 1 1 10 0 1152
2023 915 162 14 52 1 1 26 0 1171

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 Pell City High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 908 42.4 21.4 0
1989 905 45.0 20.1 n/a
1990 875 44.0 19.8 0
1991 877 43.0 20.3 n/a
1992 902 43.0 20.9 n/a
1993 986 43.0 22.9 n/a
1994 1008 47.8 21.1 n/a
1995 1090 50.4 21.6 n/a
1996 1090 50.4 21.6 n/a
1997 1074 53.7 20.0 19.2
1998 1050 54.8 19.2 18
1999 1032 57.0 18.1 22.9
2000 1066 62.8 17.0 25.5
2001 1043 63.0 16.6 29.2
2002 1068 59.0 18.1 27.9
2003 1068 59.0 18.1 27.9
2004 1100 60.0 18.3 32.1
2005 1189 61.0 19.5 33.1
2006 1216 68.0 17.9 38.4
2007 1209 71.0 17.0 36.3
2008 1205 73.2 16.5 34.4
2009 1227 74.6 16.3 41.3
2010 1267 75.2 16.8 42.1
2011 1252 90.2 13.8 47
2012 1257 70.5 17.8 44.2
2013 1241 74.5 16.6 46.7
2014 1187 72.7 16.3 52.5
2015 1167 69.0 16.9 45.6
2016 1164 69.0 16.8 47.9
2017 1169 68.4 17.0 44.7
2018 1129 68.7 16.4 44.6
2019 1147 62.8 18.2 45.2
2020 1121 62.8 17.8 43.3
2021 1130 63.7 17.7 47.4
2022 1152 53.0 21.7 37.8
2023 1171 61.2 19.1 55.1

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 Pell City High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 908 42.4 21.4 0
1989 905 45.0 20.1 n/a
1990 875 44.0 19.8 0
1991 877 43.0 20.3 n/a
1992 902 43.0 20.9 n/a
1993 986 43.0 22.9 n/a
1994 1008 47.8 21.1 n/a
1995 1090 50.4 21.6 n/a
1996 1090 50.4 21.6 n/a
1997 1074 53.7 20.0 19.2
1998 1050 54.8 19.2 18
1999 1032 57.0 18.1 22.9
2000 1066 62.8 17.0 25.5
2001 1043 63.0 16.6 29.2
2002 1068 59.0 18.1 27.9
2003 1068 59.0 18.1 27.9
2004 1100 60.0 18.3 32.1
2005 1189 61.0 19.5 33.1
2006 1216 68.0 17.9 38.4
2007 1209 71.0 17.0 36.3
2008 1205 73.2 16.5 34.4
2009 1227 74.6 16.3 41.3
2010 1267 75.2 16.8 42.1
2011 1252 90.2 13.8 47
2012 1257 70.5 17.8 44.2
2013 1241 74.5 16.6 46.7
2014 1187 72.7 16.3 52.5
2015 1167 69.0 16.9 45.6
2016 1164 69.0 16.8 47.9
2017 1169 68.4 17.0 44.7
2018 1129 68.7 16.4 44.6
2019 1147 62.8 18.2 45.2
2020 1121 62.8 17.8 43.3
2021 1130 63.7 17.7 47.4
2022 1152 53.0 21.7 37.8
2023 1171 61.2 19.1 55.1

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 Pell City High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $969 (9.9%) $8,858 (90.0%) $9,837

Data source: Alabama Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pell City 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 171st of 366 High schoolsRanks 123rd of 371 High schools
 13.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
End of Course Mathematics (Pell City High School)36.821.4
 15.4%
   End of Course Mathematics (Pell City)36.821.4
 15.4%
   End of Course Mathematics (Alabama)42.523.6
 19%
End of Course Science (Pell City High School)37.128
 9.1%
   End of Course Science (Pell City)37.128
 9.1%
   End of Course Science (Alabama)42.631.7
 10.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students11471171
 2.1%
African American144162
 12.5%
American Indian11
Asian714
 100%
Hispanic3552
 48.6%
Pacific Islander01
White958915
 4.5%
Two or More Races226
 1200%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients45.2%55.1%
 9.9%

Schools Near Pell City High School








Frequently Asked Questions about Pell City High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,171 students attended Pell City High School.

Pell City High School ranks 199th of 378 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Pell City High School are 78% White, 14% African American, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Pell City High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Coosa Valley Elementary School
Elementary : Eden Elementary School
Elementary : Iola Roberts Elementary School
Elementary : Walter M Kennedy School
Middle : Duran Junior High School
Middle : Williams Intermediate School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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