Selma High School

Summary:

Selma High School is a public high school in Selma, Alabama, serving 719 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Selma City School District, which is ranked 122 out of 137 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Selma High School faces significant challenges, with an overwhelmingly African American student population (97.91% to 99.35%) and consistently low academic performance. The school's proficiency rates on 11th grade assessments are well below state averages, ranking 158 out of 231 high schools for African American students, 156 out of 198 for special education students, and 332 out of 375 for low socioeconomic status students. Additionally, Selma High School has an extremely high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 85.26% to 85.31% over the past three school years.

While the nearby Dallas County High School and Southside High School also struggle academically, Selma High School's performance is significantly worse. The school's statewide ranking has been steadily declining, from 299 out of 371 high schools in 2020-2021 to 341 out of 378 high schools in 2023-2024. This suggests that the challenges faced by Selma High School may be systemic within the broader region, and that targeted interventions and resource allocation may be necessary to improve educational outcomes for the students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2180 Broad St
Selma, AL 36701

(334) 874-1683

District: Selma City

SchoolDigger Rank:
341^st of 378 Alabama High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,857

Feeder schools for Selma High School:

Elementary:	Clark Elementary School
	Edgewood Elementary School
	Meadowview Elementary School
	Payne Elementary School
	More...
	Sophia P Kingston Elementary School
Middle:	School Of Discovery Genesis Center
	The RBHudson STEAM Academy

Student/teacher ratio: 16.9

Number of students: 687

Racial breakdown:

African American:

97.4%

Two or more races:

1.5%

Hispanic:

0.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 85.3%

See top rated Alabama high schools

Compare Selma High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Selma High School ranks worse than 90.2% of high schools in Alabama. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.45. (See more...)

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

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (97.4%), two or more races (1.5%), Hispanic (0.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 85.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Selma High School is 16.9. (See more...)

Compare Selma High School employs 40.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Selma High School is $10,857.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Selma High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Selma High School 341^st of 378 Alabama public high schools. (See Selma 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:

Selma City:

SchoolDigger ranks Selma City 122^nd of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Selma High School?

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Rank History for Selma High School

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Rank History for all students at Selma High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2004	49.33	194^th	357	45.7%
2005	32.37	296^th	359	17.5%
2006	16.83	333^rd	357	6.7%
2007	6.91	351^st	358	2.0%
2008	16.60	339^th	359	5.6%
2009	14.09	342^nd	357	4.2%
2010	19.80	329^th	358	8.1%
2011	38.18	267^th	360	25.8%
2012	33.74	290^th	358	19.0%
2013	35.23	310^th	358	13.4%
2014	10.62	327^th	358	8.7%
2015	6.35	341^st	353	3.4%
2016	12.53	312^th	351	11.1%
2017	13.05	317^th	353	10.2%
2018	4.25	349^th	356	2.0%
2019	6.20	351^st	366	4.1%
2021	20.43	299^th	371	19.4%
2022	18.39	308^th	367	16.1%
2023	20.53	303^rd	371	18.3%
2024	13.45	341^st	378	9.8%

See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Selma High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	19.21	76^th	83	8.4%
2018	19.96	130^th	160	18.8%
2019	52.38	65^th	171	62.0%
2021	70.52	39^th	196	80.1%
2022	37.09	102^nd	169	39.6%
2024	26.08	156^th	198	21.2%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Selma High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	20.12	271^st	315	14.0%
2018	5.55	343^rd	349	1.7%
2019	7.95	342^nd	358	4.5%
2021	33.45	239^th	361	33.8%
2022	28.47	261^st	361	27.7%
2023	29.19	246^th	349	29.5%
2024	17.45	332^nd	375	11.5%

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

Rank History for Homeless students at Selma High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	29.83	3^rd	3	0.0%

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

Rank History for Female students at Selma High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	12.30	313^th	343	8.7%
2018	4.06	342^nd	347	1.4%
2019	5.54	339^th	354	4.2%
2021	22.67	278^th	359	22.6%
2022	16.84	318^th	367	13.4%
2023	18.23	304^th	358	15.1%
2024	14.44	325^th	366	11.2%

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

Rank History for Male students at Selma High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	17.96	287^th	339	15.3%
2018	6.24	331^st	350	5.4%
2019	7.74	338^th	357	5.3%
2021	19.72	299^th	366	18.3%
2022	21.86	288^th	366	21.3%
2023	23.15	279^th	358	22.1%
2024	13.34	342^nd	368	7.1%

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

Rank History for African American students at Selma High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2018	17.14	208^th	223	6.7%
2019	21.31	196^th	224	12.5%
2021	49.74	82^nd	228	64.0%
2022	42.58	105^th	222	52.7%
2023	43.38	113^th	224	49.6%
2024	30.23	158^th	231	31.6%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American 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 Selma 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	1536	1536
1989	450	1070	7	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1528
1990	421	1115	10	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1549
1991	143	1037	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1185
1992	106	1036	6	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1148
1993	80	1100	6	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1188
1994	61	1114	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1180
1995	38	1093	3	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1135
1996	38	1093	3	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1135
1997	33	1064	6	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1103
1998	25	1095	6	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1126
1999	24	1126	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1155
2000	20	1118	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1143
2001	10	1062	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1074
2002	5	1036	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1045
2003	5	1036	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1045
2004	8	1025	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1037
2005	8	1042	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1051
2006	5	1037	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1044
2007	6	963	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	970
2008	10	1009	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1020
2009	4	970	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	975
2010	4	977	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	982
2011	3	986	4	0	0	0	0	0	993
2012	7	970	5	0	0	0	0	0	982
2013	5	926	4	1	0	0	0	0	936
2014	5	971	3	0	0	0	1	0	980
2015	3	900	3	0	0	0	2	0	908
2016	3	880	3	1	0	2	0	0	889
2017	3	854	0	2	0	2	0	0	861
2018	1	814	0	2	0	2	0	0	819
2019	1	751	0	0	0	0	0	0	752
2020	2	771	1	1	0	1	1	0	777
2021	2	764	1	1	0	0	1	0	769
2022	3	583	1	1	0	0	3	0	591
2023	2	704	1	5	0	0	7	0	719
2024	2	669	0	6	0	0	10	0	687

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 Selma High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1536	72.8	21.0	0
1989	1528	77.4	19.7	n/a
1990	1549	80.0	19.3	0
1991	1185	74.0	16.0	n/a
1992	1148	65.0	17.6	n/a
1993	1188	66.0	18.0	n/a
1994	1180	69.9	16.9	n/a
1995	1135	72.0	15.8	n/a
1996	1135	72.0	15.8	n/a
1997	1103	72.0	15.3	65.5
1998	1126	72.5	15.5	65.5
1999	1155	71.0	16.3	71.9
2000	1143	69.0	16.6	71.3
2001	1074	67.0	16.0	72.1
2002	1045	65.0	16.1	74.1
2003	1045	65.0	16.1	74.1
2004	1037	57.6	18.0	81.9
2005	1051	57.0	18.4	78.9
2006	1044	61.0	17.1	78.2
2007	970	58.5	16.6	75.2
2008	1020	61.7	16.5	80.7
2009	975	56.0	17.2	82.3
2010	982	54.5	18.0	85.2
2011	993	56.4	17.5	81.2
2012	982	57.4	17.1	84.7
2013	936	56.0	16.6	87
2014	980	53.4	18.3	85.4
2015	908	46.0	19.7	66.3
2016	889	39.0	22.7	65.2
2017	861	39.2	21.9	66.4
2018	819	32.0	25.5	85.2
2019	752	41.0	18.3	85.4
2020	777	39.0	19.9	85.2
2021	769	39.0	19.7	85.3
2022	591	29.0	20.3	85.3
2023	719	38.0	18.9	85.3
2024	687	40.5	16.9	85.3

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 Selma High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1536	72.8	21.0	0
1989	1528	77.4	19.7	n/a
1990	1549	80.0	19.3	0
1991	1185	74.0	16.0	n/a
1992	1148	65.0	17.6	n/a
1993	1188	66.0	18.0	n/a
1994	1180	69.9	16.9	n/a
1995	1135	72.0	15.8	n/a
1996	1135	72.0	15.8	n/a
1997	1103	72.0	15.3	65.5
1998	1126	72.5	15.5	65.5
1999	1155	71.0	16.3	71.9
2000	1143	69.0	16.6	71.3
2001	1074	67.0	16.0	72.1
2002	1045	65.0	16.1	74.1
2003	1045	65.0	16.1	74.1
2004	1037	57.6	18.0	81.9
2005	1051	57.0	18.4	78.9
2006	1044	61.0	17.1	78.2
2007	970	58.5	16.6	75.2
2008	1020	61.7	16.5	80.7
2009	975	56.0	17.2	82.3
2010	982	54.5	18.0	85.2
2011	993	56.4	17.5	81.2
2012	982	57.4	17.1	84.7
2013	936	56.0	16.6	87
2014	980	53.4	18.3	85.4
2015	908	46.0	19.7	66.3
2016	889	39.0	22.7	65.2
2017	861	39.2	21.9	66.4
2018	819	32.0	25.5	85.2
2019	752	41.0	18.3	85.4
2020	777	39.0	19.9	85.2
2021	769	39.0	19.7	85.3
2022	591	29.0	20.3	85.3
2023	719	38.0	18.9	85.3
2024	687	40.5	16.9	85.3

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 Selma High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$2,009 (18.5%)	$8,841 (81.4%)	$10,857

Data source: Alabama Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Selma 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 351^st of 366 High schools	Ranks 303^rd of 371 High schools	14.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Mathematics (Selma High School)	7.5	2.9	4.6%
End of Course Mathematics (Selma City)	7.5	2.3	5.2%
End of Course Mathematics (Alabama)	42.5	23.6	19%
End of Course Science (Selma High School)	11.8	10.9	0.9%
End of Course Science (Selma City)	11.8	9.1	2.7%
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	752	719	4.4%
African American	751	704	6.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	0	5
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	1	2	100%
Two or More Races	0	7
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	85.4%	85.3%	0.1%

Schools Near Selma 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
Selma High School	Public	9-12	2180 Broad St	Selma	36701	Dallas County	Selma City	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 874-1683	687	41	16.9	85.3%	2 (0.3%)	669 (97.4%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.5%)	13.4	341^st of 378 public high schools	9.8%		20.5	303^rd of 371 public high schools	18.3%	38				0.6		10.6				10.0	$10,857	$2,009	$8,841
Dallas County Career Technical Center	Public	7-12	1306 Roosevelt Ave	Selma	36701	Dallas County	Dallas County	No	No	No	No	(334) 267-0788	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Southside High School	Public	9-12	7975 US Highway 80 E	Selma	36701	Dallas County	Dallas County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 872-0518	278	20	13.7	91.0%	4 (1.4%)	261 (93.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.6%)	13.9	337^th of 378 public high schools	10.8%		14.3	332^nd of 371 public high schools	10.5%	5				0.0		12.1				10.3	$13,183	$3,453	$9,707
Keith MiddleHigh School	Public	6-12	1166 Dallas Road 115	Orrville	36767	Dallas County	Dallas County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 875-4155	199	13	15.0	88.9%	1 (0.5%)	192 (96.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	4 (2.0%)	35.5	241^st of 378 public high schools	36.2%		9.9	356^th of 371 public high schools	4.0%	115	4.2	0.0	0.0	3.7	6.9	33.3	12.5	10.5	20.7	15.4	$14,621	$3,757	$10,841
Dallas County High School	Public	9-12	335 5th Ave	Plantersville	36758	Dallas County	Dallas County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 366-2232	373	21	17.4	71.6%	88 (23.6%)	263 (70.5%)	5 (1.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.0%)	33.6	248^th of 378 public high schools	34.4%		29.7	252^nd of 371 public high schools	32.1%	4				6.0		23.9				21.3	$9,853	$1,685	$8,145

Frequently Asked Questions about Selma High School

How many students attend Selma High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 687 students attended Selma High School.

What schools feed into Selma High School?

Selma High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Clark Elementary School
Elementary : Edgewood Elementary School
Elementary : Meadowview Elementary School
Elementary : Payne Elementary School
Elementary : Sophia P Kingston Elementary School
Middle : School Of Discovery Genesis Center
Middle : The RBHudson STEAM Academy

Selma High School

Selma High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Selma City:

What do you think?

Rank History for Selma High School

Rank History for all students at Selma High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Selma High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Selma High School

Rank History for Homeless students at Selma High School

Rank History for Female students at Selma High School

Rank History for Male students at Selma High School

Rank History for African American students at Selma High School

Enrollment information for Selma High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Selma High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Selma High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Selma High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Selma High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Selma High School