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

Perry County ranks first in Alabama for funding equity at 98/100, in a state whose districts average 51 against a national average of 49.

98/100
top score (Perry County)
$21,181
per-pupil spending in the top district
22
districts scoring 70 or higher
22
districts below 30
#DistrictScore
1Perry County98
2Lowndes County95
3Linden City91
4Wilcox County87
5Conecuh County84
6Sumter County83
7Marengo County82
8Barbour County81
9Selma City80
10Dallas County80
11Clarke County80
12Macon County79
13Monroe County78
14Talladega City77
15Franklin County76
16Greene County76
17Elba City74
18Choctaw County73
19Bullock County72
20Thomasville City72
21Fayette County70
22Pike County70
23Bibb County69
24Sheffield City69
25Ozark City68
26Tarrant City68
27Fairfield City67
28Opp City67
29Gadsden City66
30Life Academy66
31Dekalb County65
32Lawrence County65
33Colbert County65
34Hale County65
35Anniston City64
36Pickens County63
37Crenshaw County63
38Demopolis City63
39Magic City Acceptance Academy63
40Montgomery County62
41Tallassee City62
42Decatur City61
43Dothan City61
44Oxford City61
45Washington County60
46Birmingham City59
47Escambia County59
48Haleyville City59
49Midfield City59
50Mobile County58
51Chambers County58
52Cleburne County58
53Geneva City58
54Bessemer City57
55Geneva County57
56Coosa County57
57I3 Academy57
58Florence City56
59Walker County55
60Marion County55
61Henry County55
62Winfield City55
63Breakthrough Charter School55
64Mountain Brook City54
65Cherokee County54
66Tallapoosa County54
67Winston County54
68Legacy Prep54
69Tuscaloosa City53
70Phenix City53
71Butler County52
72Sylacauga City52
73Chickasaw City51
74Attalla City51
75Randolph County50
76Hoover City49
77Homewood City49
78Clay County49
79Brewton City49
80Lee County48
81Scottsboro City48
82Lamar County48
83Roanoke City47
84Lanett City47
85Marshall County46
86Eufaula City45
87Daleville City45
88Vestavia Hills City44
89Fort Payne City44
90Dale County44
91Tuscumbia City44
92University Charter School44
93Maef Public Charter Schools44
94Covington County43
95Baldwin County42
96Hartselle City42
97Andalusia City42
98Piedmont City42
99Calhoun County41
100Alexander City41
101Russellville City41
102Jacksonville City41
103Oneonta City41
104Russell County40
105Etowah County39
106Alabaster City39
107Opelika City39
108Troy City39
109Huntsville City38
110Lauderdale County38
111Boaz City38
112Guntersville City38
113Jackson County36
114Autauga County35
115Blount County35
116Pelham City34
117Shelby County33
118Jefferson County32
119Pell City32
120Coffee County32
121Chilton County31
122Trussville City31
123Muscle Shoals City31
124Talladega County30
125Cullman County29
126Houston County29
127Arab City29
128Satsuma City29
129Cullman City28
130Albertville City27
131Lead Academy27
132Morgan County25
133Gulf Shores City25
134Tuscaloosa County24
135Jasper City24
136Madison City23
137Enterprise City22
138Saraland City21
139St Clair County19
140Leeds City19
141Limestone County18
142Elmore County17
143Auburn City14
144Madison County13
145Pike Road City11
146Athens City10

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 2022-23), 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