These Alabama high schools best prepare graduates for college, careers

High school students wear purple graduation caps.

High school graduations occur each May in Alabama. The state uses career and college readiness indicators to see if schools are doing a good job of preparing students for future success. Trisha Powell Crain/AL.com

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It’s graduation season, and The Alabama Education Lab at AL.com took a look at which high schools the state says do the best job at sending students on to their next step.

A decade ago, the state board of education adopted a list of accomplishments that are meant to show students are ready to take college classes, go straight into the workplace or join the military.

Earning a college or career ready indicator will be a requirement to graduate high school for next year’s eighth graders - students who will graduate in 2028. The state does not have a high school graduation test.

Alabama considers a student is college or career ready if students graduate having attained one or more of the following accomplishments:

  • A benchmark score on the ACT college entrance exam,
  • A qualifying score of three or higher on an Advanced Placement exam,
  • A qualifying score of four or higher on an International Baccalaureate exam,
  • Earning college credit while in high school,
  • Earning silver or gold status on the ACT WorkKeys exam,
  • Completing an in-school youth apprenticeship program,
  • Earning a career technical industry credential listed on the compendium of valuable credentials of the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways,
  • Attaining career and technical education completer status, or
  • Being accepted into a branch of the military before graduation

Alabama high schools with high college or career readiness

Here’s a look at the 20 Alabama school districts that had the largest percentage of their seniors graduate with one or more college or career ready indicators, according to information from the Alabama State Department of Education.

  • Geneva County - 98.3%
  • Satsuma City - 98.1%
  • Opp City - 97.6%
  • Thomasville City - 97.5%
  • Gulf Shores City - 97.1%
  • Cullman County - 96.9%
  • Arab City - 96.7%
  • Coffee County - 96.4%
  • Roanoke City - 96.3%
  • Winfield City - 96.3%
  • Fort Payne City - 96.1%
  • Hartselle City - 96.1%
  • Russellville City - 95.5%
  • Geneva City - 95.1%
  • Mountain Brook City - 95.1%
  • Bibb County - 95%
  • Piedmont City - 94.7%
  • Dale County - 94.5%
  • Covington County - 93.9%
  • Alabaster City - 93.6%

Click this link to see the full list of Alabama school districts’ college and career readiness rates.

Nine Alabama schools graduated 100% of their students college or career ready:

  • Cedar Bluff High School - Cherokee County
  • Kinston School - Coffee County
  • Geneva County High School - Geneva County
  • Cold Springs High School - Cullman County
  • Holly Pond High School - Cullman County
  • Ragland High School - St Clair County
  • Loveless Academic Magnet Program - Montgomery County
  • New Century Technology High School - Huntsville City
  • Oak Grove High School - Jefferson County

Here’s a look at the percentage of each high school’s graduating class of 2022 that earned a college or career ready indicator, broken down by each type of indicator.

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