St. Clair County had 543 students ready for college in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Alabama Department of Education. This represents 75.9% of the 715 pupils in that year’s graduating cohort.
College readiness in the county decreased compared to the previous school year, when 600 students were considered prepared for college.
Across St. Clair County, Moody High School stood out, with almost 91.2% of students set to graduate considered ready for college. Meanwhile, SCC Virtual Preparatory Academy ranked last, with only 46.3% meeting the benchmark.
College readiness in the district varied based on students’ ethnicity. 45.9% of white students were considered ready for college in the 2023-24 school year. These rankings may not reflect absolute accuracy, as data for small student groups may have been suppressed to protect student privacy.
St. Clair County had an overall graduation rate of 66.2%.
Alabama ranks 50th among U.S. states for public education, according to the 2024 World Population Review, placing as the second worst in overall school performance—just above Arizona, which ranked last. The ranking reflects weak outcomes across K-12 performance, school funding, higher education quality, and safety, with particularly poor marks for test scores, graduation rates, and school resources.
| School name | No. of Students | College Readiness |
|---|---|---|
| Moody High School | 159 | 91.2% |
| Pell City High School | 291 | 80.1% |
| Saint Clair County High School | 129 | 79.1% |
| SCC Virtual Preparatory Academy | 136 | 46.3% |
*Data for small student groups is suppressed to ensure privacy.
