Fort Payne High School (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2025-26)

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Fort Payne High School

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Bottom 50%

Fort Payne High School ranked #847 in Alabama in 2023, showing a decline from #490 in 2018 and remaining in the bottom 50% of state schools overall.

Graduation rate was 98% in 2023, ranking in the top 1% statewide and exceeding the Alabama average of 88%.

Math proficiency was 26%, lower than the state average of 30%, while reading proficiency was 25% and science proficiency 23%, both lower than their respective state averages of 47% and 38%.

Enrollment increased from 933 students in 2017 to 1,112 in 2023, with minority enrollment at 53% and 734 students eligible for free lunch, reflecting a rise in socioeconomic need over time.

The school served grades 9–12 with 62 teachers in 2023, maintaining a student–teacher ratio of 18:1, consistent with recent years.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,112 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 53%
: 98% (Top 1% in AL)
: Bottom 50%
: 26% (Top 50%)
: 25% (Btm 50%)
: 23% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Fort Payne High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

School Overview

Fort Payne High School's student population of 1,112 students has grown by 17% over five school years.

The teacher population of 62 teachers has grown by 19% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Fort Payne High School
9	287
10	263
11	293
12	269

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Total Students

1,112 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School
2023	1,058
2022	1,064
2021	1,026
2020	943
2019	943
2018	933
2017	933
2016	920
2015	873
2014	801
2013	828
2012	834
2011	848
2010	828
2009	795
2008	774
2007	765
2006	780
2005	764
2004	752
2003	743
2002	692
2001	718
2000	718
1999	781
1998	813
1997	828
1996	816
1995	810
1994	783
1993	782
1992	767
1991	725
1990	713
1989	676
1988	850
1987	841

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

62 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School
2023	63
2022	55
2021	58
2020	52
2019	52
2018	53
2017	53
2016	51
2015	49
2014	48
2013	51
2012	51
2011	51
2010	47
2009	47
2008	45
2007	44
2006	43
2005	46
2004	45
2003	41
2002	42
2001	45
2000	44
1999	47
1998	48
1997	45
1996	44
1995	42
1994	40
1993	38
1992	37
1991	37
1990	35
1989	35
1988	37
1987	40

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School Calendar

School Rankings

Fort Payne High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,275 schools in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Fort Payne High School is 0.57, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (AL)

#847 out of 1275 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School
2023	#847
2022	#863
2021	#737
2019	#710
2018	#490
2017	#866
2016	#1114
2015	#719
2014	#615
2013	#478
2012	#487

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26%

30%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	26%	30%	34%
2022	21%	29%	34%
2021	21%	24%	26%
2019	37%	47%	46%
2018	47%	47%	45%
2017	22%	44%	45%
2016	11%	43%	43%
2015	16%	40%	41%
2014	14%	38%	32%
2013	87%	80%	80%
2012	90%	82%	82%

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25%

47%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2022	25%	47%	50%
2021	28%	46%	46%
2019	45%	45%	43%
2018	51%	46%	45%
2017	32%	39%	40%
2016	22%	38%	37%
2015	51%	41%	37%
2014	66%	42%	38%
2013	87%	86%	84%
2012	87%	86%	85%
2011	88%	85%	85%

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23%

38%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2022	23%	38%	33%
2021	28%	36%	33%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

18:1

17:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	17:1	17:1	17:1
2022	19:1	18:1	18:1
2021	18:1	17:1	17:1
2020	18:1	17:1	17:1
2019	18:1	17:1	17:1
2018	18:1	18:1	18:1
2017	18:1	17:1	18:1
2016	18:1	18:1	17:1
2015	18:1	18:1	18:1
2014	17:1	16:1	16:1
2013	16:1	14:1	15:1
2012	16:1	16:1	16:1
2011	17:1	15:1	16:1
2010	17:1	16:1	15:1
2009	17:1	16:1	16:1
2008	17:1	15:1	16:1
2007	17:1	16:1	17:1
2006	18:1	15:1	17:1
2005	17:1	15:1	14:1
2004	17:1	15:1	16:1
2003	18:1	16:1	17:1
2002	16:1	16:1	17:1
2001	16:1	16:1	17:1
2000	16:1	15:1	16:1
1999	17:1	16:1	16:1
1998	17:1	16:1	18:1
1997	19:1	17:1	18:1
1996	19:1	17:1	17:1
1995	19:1	17:1	18:1
1994	20:1	18:1	19:1
1993	21:1	18:1	20:1
1992	21:1	19:1	21:1
1991	20:1	19:1	20:1
1990	20:1	19:1	21:1
1989	19:1	20:1	21:1
1988	23:1	20:1	23:1
1987	21:1	21:1	22:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	2%	1%	1%
2022	2%	1%	2%
2021	2%	1%	2%
2020	1%	1%	2%
2019	1%	1%	2%
2007	1%	1%
2002	2%	1%	1%
2001	3%	1%	1%
2000	6%	1%	2%
1999	7%	1%	2%
1998	8%	1%	3%
1997	9%	1%	3%
1996	7%	1%	4%
1995	12%	1%	6%
1994	9%	1%	6%
1993	9%	1%	6%
1992	7%	1%	7%
1991	5%	1%	6%
1990	6%	1%	6%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2022)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2022	1%	1%	1%
2021	1%	2%	1%
2020	1%	2%	1%
2019	1%	2%	1%
2013	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%	1%
2011	1%	2%	1%
2010	1%	2%	1%
2009	1%	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%
2004	1%	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%	1%
2000	1%	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%	1%
1996	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%	1%

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Hispanic

46%

11%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	45%	11%	42%
2022	42%	10%	40%
2021	39%	9%	39%
2020	36%	8%	38%
2019	36%	8%	38%
2018	34%	7%	38%
2017	34%	7%	38%
2016	32%	7%	38%
2015	30%	6%	37%
2014	27%	5%	34%
2013	23%	5%	32%
2012	22%	5%	32%
2011	22%	4%	32%
2010	19%	4%	30%
2009	19%	4%	30%
2008	19%	4%	29%
2007	18%	3%	28%
2006	16%	3%	26%
2005	16%	2%	23%
2004	12%	2%	20%
2003	10%	2%	18%
2002	10%	2%	16%
2001	9%	1%	14%
2000	5%	1%	10%
1999	4%	1%	8%

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Black

32%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	3%	32%	3%
2022	2%	32%	3%
2021	3%	32%	3%
2020	4%	33%	3%
2019	4%	33%	3%
2018	5%	33%	4%
2017	5%	33%	4%
2016	5%	33%	4%
2015	5%	33%	3%
2014	5%	34%	4%
2013	5%	34%	4%
2012	5%	34%	4%
2011	6%	35%	5%
2010	5%	35%	5%
2009	4%	35%	5%
2008	4%	36%	6%
2007	5%	36%	6%
2006	6%	36%	6%
2005	6%	36%	5%
2004	7%	36%	6%
2003	6%	36%	6%
2002	5%	36%	6%
2001	6%	36%	5%
2000	5%	36%	6%
1999	5%	36%	5%
1998	5%	36%	5%
1997	5%	36%	6%
1996	6%	36%	7%
1995	6%	36%	7%
1994	6%	36%	6%
1993	6%	36%	6%

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White

47%

51%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	48%	52%	50%
2022	51%	53%	52%
2021	53%	53%	53%
2020	55%	54%	54%
2019	55%	54%	54%
2018	59%	55%	55%
2017	59%	55%	55%
2016	61%	56%	56%
2015	63%	56%	56%
2014	66%	57%	57%
2013	69%	58%	60%
2012	69%	58%	60%
2011	71%	58%	62%
2010	75%	58%	64%
2009	76%	59%	64%
2008	76%	58%	64%
2007	75%	59%	65%
2006	77%	59%	68%
2005	77%	60%	73%
2004	80%	60%	73%
2003	83%	60%	75%
2002	82%	60%	76%
2001	81%	61%	79%
2000	83%	61%	81%
1999	83%	61%	84%
1998	85%	61%	86%
1997	86%	60%	87%
1996	86%	61%	87%
1995	81%	62%	85%
1994	83%	62%	87%
1993	83%	62%	86%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	2%	3%	3%
2022	2%	3%	2%
2021	2%	3%	2%
2020	3%	2%	2%
2019	3%	2%	2%
2018	2%	2%	1%
2017	2%	2%	1%
2016	2%	2%	2%
2015	2%	2%	4%
2014	2%	2%	5%
2013	2%	1%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.57

0.63

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	0.57	0.62	0.58
2022	0.57	0.61	0.57
2021	0.57	0.61	0.57
2020	0.57	0.60	0.57
2019	0.57	0.60	0.57
2018	0.54	0.59	0.56
2017	0.54	0.59	0.56
2016	0.53	0.58	0.55
2015	0.52	0.58	0.56
2014	0.49	0.56	0.55
2013	0.47	0.55	0.54
2012	0.48	0.55	0.54
2011	0.45	0.54	0.51
2010	0.40	0.54	0.50
2009	0.39	0.53	0.51
2008	0.39	0.54	0.50
2007	0.41	0.53	0.50
2006	0.38	0.53	0.47
2005	0.38	0.51	0.45
2004	0.34	0.51	0.43
2003	0.30	0.51	0.40
2002	0.32	0.51	0.38
2001	0.33	0.50	0.36
2000	0.30	0.50	0.32
1999	0.30	0.50	0.29
1998	0.27	0.50	0.26
1997	0.25	0.52	0.24
1996	0.25	0.50	0.23
1995	0.33	0.49	0.26
1994	0.30	0.49	0.24
1993	0.30	0.49	0.25

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98%

88%

View Data

Graduation Rate Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	98%	88%	98%
2022	96%	88%	96%
2021	97%	89%	97%
2020	97%	90%	97%
2019	98%	91%	98%
2018	97%	89%	97%
2017	97%	88%	97%
2016	98%	87%	98%
2015	95%	89%	95%
2014	95%	86%	95%
2013	91%	81%	91%

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

66%

56%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	66%	55%	70%
2022	49%	44%	52%
2021	56%	48%	56%
2020	52%	49%	56%
2019	52%	49%	56%
2018	52%	47%	58%
2017	52%	47%	58%
2016	54%	46%	58%
2015	52%	47%	57%
2014	49%	52%	58%
2013	49%	51%	57%
2012	48%	51%	56%
2011	43%	49%	54%
2010	39%	47%	51%
2009	31%	44%	47%
2008	32%	43%	45%
2007	33%	42%	44%
2006	32%	44%	43%
2005	32%	43%	46%
2004	28%	42%	40%
2003	24%	42%	35%
2002	20%	40%	32%
2001	19%	38%	31%
2000	9%	37%	27%
1999	15%	38%	27%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Fort Payne High School	Alabama	Fort Payne City School District
2023	5%	5%	5%
2022	6%	5%	6%
2021	4%	6%	4%
2020	7%	6%	6%
2019	7%	6%	6%
2018	7%	5%	5%
2017	7%	5%	5%
2016	5%	5%	4%
2015	5%	5%	4%
2014	6%	6%	5%
2013	7%	6%	5%
2012	4%	7%	5%
2011	6%	6%	5%
2010	5%	8%	5%
2009	10%	8%	8%
2008	11%	8%	9%
2007	9%	9%	9%
2006	8%	9%	8%
2005	7%	8%	9%
2004	7%	8%	8%
2003	6%	8%	8%
2002	6%	8%	9%
2001	4%	8%	7%
2000	4%	8%	9%
1999	4%	8%	7%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Fort Payne City School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fort Payne High School's ranking?

Fort Payne High School is ranked #847 out of 1,275 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Alabama.

What schools are Fort Payne High School often compared to?

Fort Payne High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Valley Head High School, Henagar Junior High School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

26% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 30% AL state average), while 25% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% AL state average).

What is the graduation rate of Fort Payne High School?

The graduation rate of Fort Payne High School is 98%, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 88%.

How many students attend Fort Payne High School?

1,112 students attend Fort Payne High School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

47% of Fort Payne High School students are White, 46% of students are Hispanic, 3% of students are Black, 2% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Fort Payne High School?

Fort Payne High School has a student ration of 18:1, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 17:1.

What grades does Fort Payne High School offer ?

Fort Payne High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Fort Payne High School part of?

Fort Payne High School is part of Fort Payne City School District.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,112 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 53%
: 98% (Top 1%)
: Bottom 50%
: 26% (Top 50%)
: 25% (Btm 50%)
: 23% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education