The quality of education in Birmingham city schools varies across the city. Some schools, such as Phillips Academy, are rated “A” by the state Department of Education, while the report cards for other schools are not as promising.
The quality of education in Birmingham city schools varies across the city. Some schools, such as Phillips Academy, are rated “A” by the state Department of Education, while the report cards for other schools are not as promising.
Despite gains this year, Birmingham’s city schools overall still lag behind the rest of the state, scoring a D on the state report card while schools across the state average a C. (See what the numbers mean.)
Many factors influence the quality of education a child gets in school, from absenteeism to issues surrounding poverty to the school administration itself.
Here are profiles of some of Birmingham’s low-scoring schools that also are on the failing schools list, along with a profile of the city’s top-performing school, Phillips Academy.
Students: 703
Teachers: 41
Education Report Card 2017-2018: A (92)
Failing Schools List: None
Read More about Phillips Academy
The Birmingham City Schools system is one of the largest in Alabama. At the same time, it has a difficult history and a present reality in which a number of schools are performing at standards lower than what the superintendent, board of education and city administration would like.
In an effort to understand the state of the schools, BirminghamWatch examined the data and sought interviews or written information from BCS officials. Our efforts were less than fully successful.
A timeline of Birmingham city schools.
1873: Board of School Trustees established
1874: Free School Established (renamed The Powell School 1883)
1883: John H. Phillips, superintendent (First Birmingham Schools superintendent, considered the architect of the first school system)