Shades Valley High School

6100 Old Leeds Rd
Birmingham, AL 35210
(School attendance zone shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 1,200 students in grades 9-12, Shades Valley High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Alabama for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 22% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 29%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 35% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 20:1 is higher than the Alabama state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 78% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Alabama state average of 48% (majority Black).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 1,200 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 20:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 78%
  • : 94% (Top 20% in AL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 22% (Top 50%)
  • : 35% (Btm 50%)
  • : 34% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Shades Valley High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

School Overview

Shades Valley High School's student population of 1,200 students has declined by 5% over five school years.
The teacher population of 60 teachers has declined by 20% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Total Students
1,200 students
This chart displays total students of Shades Valley High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Shades Valley High School
Total Classroom Teachers
60 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Shades Valley High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Shades Valley High School by grade.

School Rankings

Shades Valley High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,285 schools in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Shades Valley High School is 0.63, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.62. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (AL)
#725 out of 1285 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Shades Valley High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
22%
29%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Shades Valley High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
35%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Shades Valley High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
34%
38%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Shades Valley High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
17:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Shades Valley High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
1%
Asian
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Shades Valley High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
20%
11%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Shades Valley High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
54%
32%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Shades Valley High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
22%
52%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Shades Valley High School and the percentage of White public school students in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
3%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Shades Valley High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Shades Valley High School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Alabama.
0.63
This chart displays the diversity score of Shades Valley High School and the public school average diversity score of Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
94%
88%
This chart displays graduation rate of Shades Valley High School and public school graduation rate of Alabama by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
59%
55%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Shades Valley High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
9%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Shades Valley High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Alabama by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

School Notes

  • Shades Valley High School is a high school located in Irondale, Alabama. The school was established in 1948. The Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School is located on the same campus. Dabbs Technical Academy is located several miles away on a different campus. The school's academies include business, theater, and technical. Because of the draw from the county, SVHS/JCIB serves a diverse student body population. SVHS/JCIB serves grades 9-12. The administration is comprised of a principal and four assistant principals, one who primarily serves at JCIB. SVHS/JCIB colors are maroon and black, and the athletic teams are called the "Mounties". SVHS/JCIB has a variety of clubs which meet on alternate Tuesdays during Club Day. Sports include football, girls and boys basketball, girls and boys tennis and golf, girls volleyball, track, boys soccer, baseball and girls softball. The soccer team won the state championship in 2006. The SVHS/JCIB drama department is noted nationally as being one of the primier programs for drama. There have been many successful graduates of SVHS/JCIB including politicians and government officials, professionals in law, education, business, and medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shades Valley High School's ranking?
Shades Valley High School is ranked #725 out of 1,285 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Alabama.
What schools are Shades Valley High School often compared to?
Shades Valley High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Hoover High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
22% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 29% AL state average), while 35% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% AL state average).
What is the graduation rate of Shades Valley High School?
The graduation rate of Shades Valley High School is 94%, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 88%.
How many students attend Shades Valley High School?
1,200 students attend Shades Valley High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
54% of Shades Valley High School students are Black, 22% of students are White, 20% of students are Hispanic, 3% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Shades Valley High School?
Shades Valley High School has a student ration of 20:1, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 17:1.
What grades does Shades Valley High School offer ?
Shades Valley High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12
What school district is Shades Valley High School part of?
Shades Valley High School is part of Jefferson County School District.

School Reviews

Review Shades Valley High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

Vouchers for Special Education: Are They a Good Idea?
Vouchers for Special Education: Are They a Good Idea?
The article examines the pros and cons of using school vouchers for special education students. It discusses how vouchers can provide more educational options for families but also raises concerns about accountability, funding for public schools, and the implementation of special education laws in private school settings.
What is the Connection Between Home Values and School Performance?
What is the Connection Between Home Values and School Performance?
This article explores the relationship between school performance and home values in neighborhoods. It discusses studies showing correlations between school expenditures, ratings, and housing prices, highlighting how this connection affects families' choices and contributes to educational disparities between communities.
Understanding Rubrics
September 27, 2024
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 1,200 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 20:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 78%
  • : 94% (Top 20%)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 22% (Top 50%)
  • : 35% (Btm 50%)
  • : 34% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education

Related School Videos

Quick Links