Research / Best ZIP codes for schools
Best ZIP codes for schools in Alabama
Ranked by the School Quality Index: district math and reading proficiency and graduation rates, weighted by how much of each district falls in the ZIP.
How we rank school quality
The School Quality Index summarizes district math and reading proficiency and four-year graduation outcomes. Results based on very small student samples are excluded, and missing measures do not count as zero.
A ZIP's score reflects the districts serving the area, with greater influence from districts covering more of the ZIP. It measures outcomes, not school ratings, spending, or individual schools.
Each state sets its own tests and proficiency cut scores, so the index compares ZIPs well within a state but not across states. That is why we rank ZIPs only within each state.
Only ZIPs with at least 1,000 residents are ranked, so a handful of households cannot top the list. 511 Alabama ZIPs qualify.
Alabama ZIP codes ranked by school quality
1ZIP 35223Mountain Brook
Alabama
- School quality index
- 71.3
- ZIP population
- ~11k
- Avg. temperature
- 64°F
- Avg. commute
- 18 min
2ZIP 35229Homewood
Alabama
- School quality index
- 70.6
- ZIP population
- ~3k
- Avg. temperature
- 64°F
- Avg. commute
- 12 min
3ZIP 36849Auburn
Alabama
- School quality index
- 67.2
- ZIP population
- ~5k
- Avg. temperature
- 65°F
- Avg. commute
- 12 min
4ZIP 35216Birmingham
Alabama
- School quality index
- 65.8
- ZIP population
- ~34k
- Avg. temperature
- 64°F
- Avg. commute
- 23 min
5ZIP 35758Madison
Alabama
- School quality index
- 64.8
- ZIP population
- ~50k
- Avg. temperature
- 61°F
- Avg. commute
- 20 min
6ZIP 35213Birmingham
Alabama
- School quality index
- 63.1
- ZIP population
- ~16k
- Avg. temperature
- 64°F
- Avg. commute
- 17 min
| Rank | ZIP | City | County | School quality index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | 35243 | Vestavia | Jefferson County | 61.8 |
| #8 | 36571 | Saraland | Mobile County | 61.7 |
| #9 | 35226 | Hoover | Jefferson County | 60.6 |
| #10 | 35209 | Homewood | Jefferson County | 59.7 |
| #11 | 35244 | Hoover | Jefferson County | 59.1 |
| #12 | 36542 | Gulf Shores | Baldwin County | 56.7 |
| #13 | 36561 | Orange Beach | Baldwin County | 54.5 |
| #14 | 35080 | Helena | Shelby County | 54.4 |
| #15 | 35007 | Alabaster | Shelby County | 54.1 |
| #16 | 35114 | Alabaster | Shelby County | 54.1 |
| #17 | 35051 | Columbiana | Shelby County | 54.0 |
| #18 | 35078 | Harpersville | Shelby County | 54.0 |
| #19 | 35143 | Shelby | Shelby County | 54.0 |
| #20 | 35147 | Sterrett | Shelby County | 54.0 |
| #21 | 35186 | Wilsonville | Shelby County | 54.0 |
| #22 | 35043 | Chelsea | Shelby County | 53.8 |
| #23 | 36507 | Bay Minette | Baldwin County | 53.6 |
| #24 | 36526 | Daphne | Baldwin County | 53.6 |
| #25 | 36527 | Daphne | Baldwin County | 53.6 |
Rank Alabama by your own priorities
This list uses one attribute. In SkaldMaps you choose the criteria, weight them, and rank every Alabama ZIP against what matters to you.
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More Alabama research
Most affordable ZIP codes
Ranked by cost of living index
- Alabama median ZIP
- 81.1
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 69.2 to 98.8
ZIP codes with the shortest commutes
Ranked by mean commute
- Alabama median ZIP
- 27.1 min
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 20.1 min to 34.9 min
Best healthcare access
Ranked by healthcare access score
- Alabama median ZIP
- 91.3
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 83.3 to 98.0
Best broadband coverage
Ranked by households with broadband
- Alabama median ZIP
- 85.5%
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 73.2% to 93.9%
Warmest ZIP codes
Ranked by avg. temperature
- Alabama median ZIP
- 64.2°F
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 61.2°F to 67.7°F