Etowah County had 350 students ready for college in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Alabama Department of Education. This represents 76.1% of the 460 pupils in that year’s graduating cohort.
College readiness in the county decreased compared to the previous school year, when 359 students were considered prepared for college.
Across Etowah County, Sardis High School stood out, with almost 91.5% of students set to graduate considered ready for college. Meanwhile, Gadsden City High School ranked last, with only 69.3% meeting the benchmark.
College readiness in the county varied based on students’ ethnicity. During the 2023-24 school year, while 51.1% of white students were considered ready for college, only 20.4% Black or African American 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.
Etowah County had an overall graduation rate of 58.5%.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sardis High School | 141 | 91.5% |
| Gadsden City High School | 319 | 69.3% |
*Data for small student groups is suppressed to ensure privacy.
