- Enrollment
- 1,377
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Irondale, AL
Shades Valley High School
Federal NCES profile for Shades Valley High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010192000744
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shades Valley High School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also one of the largest schools in Alabama.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Irondale · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.5:1
- students per teacher
- 58.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Shades Valley High School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shades Valley High School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Irondale, AL.
School address
District: Jefferson County · Alabama
NCES ID 010192000744 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-78 students YoY
Shades Valley High School shrank from 1,200 students in 2022-23 to 1,122 in 2023-24 (-6.5%).
Teacher FTE added 59.5 → 66.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-78 students YoY 010192000744 · Irondale, AL High · MID · TRAD
1,094 enr · 18.5:1 · 58.9% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Claychalkville High School (1,377 students)
Shades Valley High School shrank from 1,200 students in 2022-23 to 1,122 in 2023-24 (-6.5%). Teacher FTE added 59.5 → 66.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Shades Valley High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Claychalkville
Claychalkville High School
1,377 students
- Mcadory High S
Mcadory High School
1,259 students
- Hueytown High
Hueytown High School
1,200 students
- This school
Shades Valley High School
1,094 students
- Gardendale Hig
Gardendale High School
1,076 students
- Pinson Valley
Pinson Valley High School
1,025 students
What this shows Shades Valley High School reports 1,094 students on the CCD universe file.
How Shades Valley High School compares
Shades Valley High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.5:1 | ▲ 5% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.9% | ▲ 0% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,094 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.5:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,094
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 0% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.5:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 66% in Alabama - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,194
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 274 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 236 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 52.1%
Hispanic or Latino 25.6%
White 18.3%
Two or More 3.2%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 52.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.8, Shades Valley High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
District finance for Jefferson County reports $12,194 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Shades Valley High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claychalkville High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mcadory High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hueytown High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gardendale High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pinson Valley High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shades Valley High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,259
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,200
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 1,076
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,025
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,094 students)
Frequently asked questions about Shades Valley High School
How many students attend Shades Valley High School?
Shades Valley High School has 1,094 students enrolled. It is a high school in Irondale, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,200 (2022-23) → 1,122 (2023-24), down 78.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shades Valley High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shades Valley High School is 18.5:1, which is 5% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Shades Valley High School?
58.9% of students at Shades Valley High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shades Valley High School?
The largest demographic group at Shades Valley High School is African American at 52.1% of enrollment, in Irondale, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shades Valley High School?
Shades Valley High School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Shades Valley High School rank among public schools in Irondale?
By Resource Investment Index, Shades Valley High School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Irondale, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Jefferson County?
Besides Shades Valley High School, Jefferson County also operates Claychalkville High School (1,377 students), Mcadory High School (1,259 students), and Hueytown High School (1,200 students). See the Jefferson County district page for the complete list.