Four local high schools ranked among best in Alabama

Published 3:36 pm Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Spain Park, Oak Mountain, Calera and Vincent high schools were all named among the top 100 in Alabama by Niche.com. (File)

Spain Park, Oak Mountain, Calera and Vincent high schools were all named among the top 100 in Alabama by Niche.com. (File)

By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

Four local high schools have been named among the top 100 public high schools in the state, according to national ranking website, Niche.com. Spain Park High School, Oak Mountain High School, Vincent Middle High School and Calera High School made Niche.com’s 2016 Best Public High Schools in Alabama, released Nov. 17.

Spain Park High School came in at No. 4 on the list. The Hoover City Schools high school was noted for its 92 percent graduation rate, compared to the national average of 82.2 percent, and for the student body’s 98 percent proficiency in both math and reading.

Niche.com granted Spain Park top marks in academics, administration and policies, educational outcomes, resources and facilities and teachers. The school received high marks for extracurriculars, food, health and safety, sorts and fitness and student culture and diversity.

Oak Mountain High School, part of the Shelby County School System, took 11th on the list. The school earned high marks in academics, administration and policies, educational outcomes, extracurriculars, food, health and safety, resources and facilities, sports and fitness and teachers.

Niche.com also noted Oak Mountain’s 96 percent graduation rate. The school boasts a student body that is 93 percent proficient in math and 91 percent proficient in reading, according the Niche.com.

Vincent Middle High School, also part of the Shelby County School System, was ranked 58th on the list. The school received high grades for academics, administration and policies, extracurriculars, food, health and safety, resources and facilities, sports and fitness, student culture and diversity and teachers.

Calera High School, another school in the Shelby County School System, took the 71st spot on the list. Niche.com gave the high school high marks in academics, educational outcomes, food, resources and facilities, sports and fitness and student culture and diversity.

Niche.com evaluated each high school on eight factors, placing the most weight on academics, followed by health and safety, parent and student opinion surveys on overall experience, student culture and diversity, teachers, resources and facilities, extracurriculars and activities and sports and fitness. Each school’s state test scores, graduation rates and SAT and ACT scores were also analyzed to compile the 2015 Best Public High Schools in Alabama list.

To view the list in its entirety, visit K12.niche.com/rankings/public-high-schools/best-overall/s/alabama/.