Tuscaloosa County had 1,243 students ready for college in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Alabama Department of Education. This represents 83.7% of the 1,485 pupils in that year’s graduating cohort.
College readiness in the county increased compared to the previous school year, when 1,054 students were considered prepared for college.
Across Tuscaloosa County, Northridge High School stood out, with almost 90% of students set to graduate considered ready for college. Meanwhile, Paul W. Bryant High School ranked last, with only 74.2% meeting the benchmark.
College readiness in the county varied based on students’ ethnicity. During the 2023-24 school year, while 36.7% of white students were considered ready for college, only 1.3% American Indian or Alaska Native students achieved the same status. These rankings may not reflect absolute accuracy, as data for small student groups may have been suppressed to protect student privacy.
Tuscaloosa County had an overall graduation rate of 83.4%.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Northridge High School | 269 | 90% |
| Northside High School | 115 | 88.7% |
| Brookwood High School | 233 | 84.5% |
| Sipsey Valley High School | 136 | 83.8% |
| Tuscaloosa County High School | 376 | 83.5% |
| Holt High School | 112 | 83% |
| Paul W. Bryant High School | 244 | 74.2% |
*Data for small student groups is suppressed to ensure privacy.
