Alabama · NCES F-33 finance data

School Funding Equity in Alabama

146 districts ranked by how equitably school funding is distributed, scored from NCES F-33 school finance data covering districts in all 50 states.

51
State avg score
49
National avg score
146
Districts ranked

The equity picture in one line

Lowndes County ranks first in Alabama for funding equity at 95/100, in a state whose districts average 51 against a national average of 49.

95/100
top score (Lowndes County)
$20,753
per-pupil spending in the top district
25
districts scoring 70 or higher
22
districts below 30
# District Score
1 Lowndes County 95
2 Perry County 95
3 Linden City 92
4 Wilcox County 87
5 Selma City 84
6 Conecuh County 83
7 Sumter County 82
8 Macon County 81
9 Dallas County 80
10 Marengo County 79
11 Barbour County 79
12 Monroe County 78
13 Clarke County 78
14 Greene County 77
15 Magic City Acceptance Academy 77
16 Opp City 76
17 Choctaw County 74
18 Franklin County 73
19 Talladega City 73
20 Pike County 72
21 Thomasville City 72
22 Breakthrough Charter School 72
23 Haleyville City 71
24 Sheffield City 71
25 Bullock County 70
26 Bibb County 69
27 Fayette County 69
28 Geneva City 67
29 Midfield City 67
30 Elba City 67
31 Dekalb County 65
32 Gadsden City 65
33 Colbert County 64
34 Ozark City 64
35 Tarrant City 64
36 Pickens County 63
37 Randolph County 63
38 Fairfield City 63
39 Anniston City 62
40 Brewton City 62
41 Legacy Prep 62
42 Maef Public Charter Schools 61
43 Walker County 60
44 Hale County 60
45 Decatur City 59
46 Piedmont City 59
47 Coosa County 59
48 Life Academy 59
49 Phenix City 58
50 Lawrence County 58
51 Demopolis City 58
52 I3 Academy 58
53 Birmingham City 56
54 Escambia County 56
55 Geneva County 56
56 Sylacauga City 56
57 Mobile County 55
58 Chickasaw City 55
59 Henry County 55
60 Crenshaw County 55
61 University Charter School 55
62 Florence City 54
63 Mountain Brook City 54
64 Chambers County 54
65 Covington County 54
66 Washington County 54
67 Dothan City 53
68 Bessemer City 53
69 Winston County 53
70 Hoover City 52
71 Cherokee County 52
72 Tallapoosa County 52
73 Tuscaloosa City 51
74 Homewood City 51
75 Attalla City 51
76 Winfield City 51
77 Montgomery County 50
78 Russellville City 50
79 Clay County 50
80 Butler County 49
81 Tallassee City 49
82 Lanett City 49
83 Oxford City 48
84 Marion County 48
85 Scottsboro City 48
86 Tuscumbia City 48
87 Calhoun County 47
88 Cleburne County 47
89 Lee County 46
90 Alexander City 46
91 Troy City 45
92 Roanoke City 45
93 Vestavia Hills City 44
94 Marshall County 44
95 Daleville City 44
96 Lead Academy 44
97 Eufaula City 43
98 Dale County 43
99 Lamar County 43
100 Andalusia City 43
101 Fort Payne City 41
102 Oneonta City 41
103 Etowah County 40
104 Jacksonville City 40
105 Hartselle City 39
106 Guntersville City 38
107 Baldwin County 37
108 Alabaster City 37
109 Opelika City 37
110 Russell County 37
111 Blount County 36
112 Boaz City 36
113 Talladega County 35
114 Cullman County 34
115 Autauga County 34
116 Chilton County 33
117 Jasper City 33
118 Jefferson County 32
119 Huntsville City 32
120 Lauderdale County 32
121 Houston County 31
122 Trussville City 31
123 Cullman City 31
124 Pelham City 30
125 Muscle Shoals City 29
126 Saraland City 28
127 Arab City 28
128 Satsuma City 28
129 Shelby County 27
130 Tuscaloosa County 27
131 Pell City 27
132 Coffee County 27
133 Albertville City 26
134 Jackson County 25
135 Morgan County 24
136 Enterprise City 24
137 Madison City 23
138 Leeds City 21
139 Limestone County 18
140 St Clair County 18
141 Elmore County 17
142 Madison County 14
143 Gulf Shores City 12
144 Auburn City 11
145 Pike Road City 10
146 Athens City 9

How the Equity Score Works

The equity score (0-100) evaluates four dimensions of school funding fairness. According to the National Center for Education Statistics F-33 Finance Survey (FY 2021-22, released in 2024), which covers more than 17,000 districts nationwide, local property wealth drives most of the spending differences the score captures; our methodology documents each weight:

Per-Pupil Spending (0-25)
Higher spending relative to peers
Need-Adjusted Spending (0-25)
Spending weighted by poverty level, rewards districts that spend more where need is greatest
Funding Diversity (0-25)
Less reliance on local property taxes, more state/federal support
Resource Access (0-25)
Lower student-teacher ratios = more individualized attention