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Bessemer City School District

1621 5th Ave N
Bessemer, AL 35020
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public preschools serving 1,076 students in Bessemer City School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Alabama.
Public Preschools in Bessemer City School District have an average math proficiency score of 7% (versus the Alabama public pre school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 17% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Alabama public preschool average of 48% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (AL)
# Schools
8 Schools
648 Schools
# Students
3,121 Students
310,670 Students
# Teachers
151 Teachers
18,546 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
21:1
21:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Bessemer City School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 145 school districts in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 65% has decreased from 73% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AL)
#138 out of 145 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
5%
29%
20%
47%
12%
38%
65%
88%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.39
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
20%
11%
% Black
76%
30%
% White
2%
52%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,448 is higher than the state median of $13,006. The school district revenue/student has grown by 25% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,357 is higher than the state median of $12,220. The school district spending/student has grown by 26% over four school years.
This School District
This State (AL)
Total Revenue
$48 MM
$9,671 MM
Spending
$45 MM
$9,086 MM
Revenue / Student (19-20)
$15,448
$13,006
Spending / Student (19-20)
$14,357
$12,220

Best Bessemer City School District Public Preschools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Abrams Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1200 23rd Street North
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3100
Grades: PK-5
| 217 students
Rank: #22.
Jonesboro Elementary School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
125 Owen Ave
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3400
Grades: PK-5
| 509 students
Rank: #33.
Charles F Hard Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2801 Arlington Ave
Bessemer, AL 35020
(205) 432-3300
Grades: PK-5
| 350 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,121 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 21:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 98%
  • : 65% (Btm 50% in AL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 5% (Btm 50%)
  • : 20% (Btm 50%)
  • : 12% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

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