Total enrollment
12,277
+327 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
DeKalb County
Alabama · Public K-12
Public education in DeKalb County reaches 12,277 students across 20 schools. DeKalb County Public Schools is the largest district at 8,769 students. The level mix is 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in DeKalb County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
+1 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How DeKalb County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Alabama | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 38.3% | #39 of 64 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 12,277 | #19 of 65 | #700 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 17 | #25 of 65 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.9:1 | #8 of 65 | #2,034 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 65.0% | #20 of 65 | #902 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 59.8% | #13 of 64 | #574 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
DeKalb County school rankings
Residents
72,269
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
20
2 districts
Enrollment
12,277
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$51,204
Below Alabama avg
Free/reduced lunch
65.0%
Above Alabama avg
Elementary
6
2,755 students
Middle
2
1,511 students
High
4
1,755 students
Combined / other
8
6,256 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
DeKalb County Public Schools
8,769 students · 2 districts in DeKalb County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of DeKalb County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
14.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
40
24.0% under 18
Test scores in DeKalb County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Alabama state average: 53.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Plainview School· 69.5%
- Little Ridge Intermediate School· 65.8%
- Fort Payne Middle School· 63.9%
- Henagar Junior High School· 63.3%
- Fyffe High School· 62.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Crossville High School· 9.6%
- Fort Payne High School· 26.7%
- Crossville Middle School· 29.9%
- Collinsville High School· 34.6%
- Crossville Elementary School· 38.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geraldine School | Geraldine | Combined | PK-12 | 1,211 | · |
| Plainview School | Rainsville | Combined | PK-12 | 1,167 | · |
| Fort Payne High School | Fort Payne | High | 09-12 | 1,106 | · |
| Fyffe High School | Fyffe | Combined | PK-12 | 954 | · |
| Sylvania School | Sylvania | Combined | PK-12 | 915 | · |
| Collinsville High School | Collinsville | Combined | PK-12 | 906 | · |
| Little Ridge Intermediate School | Fort Payne | Elementary | 03-05 | 792 | · |
| Crossville Middle School | Crossville | Middle | 04-08 | 770 | · |
| Fort Payne Middle School | Fort Payne | Middle | 06-08 | 741 | · |
| Wills Valley Elementary School | Fort Payne | Elementary | KG-02 | 738 | · |
| Crossville Elementary School | Crossville | Elementary | KG-03 | 658 | · |
| Crossville High School | Crossville | High | 09-12 | 649 | · |
| Ider School | Ider | Combined | PK-12 | 586 | · |
| Valley Head High School | Valley Head | Combined | PK-12 | 517 | · |
| Henagar Junior High School | Henagar | Elementary | PK-08 | 261 | · |
| Ruhuma Junior High School | Ft Payne | Elementary | PK-08 | 175 | · |
| Williams Avenue Elementary School | Fort Payne | Elementary | PK-PK | 131 | · |
| Alternative School | Fort Payne | High | 05-12 | · | · |
| Dekalb Annex School | Rainsville | Combined | KG-12 | · | · |
| Dekalb Technical Center | Rainsville | High | 10-12 | · | · |
Cities in DeKalb County
About DeKalb County
DeKalb County is a medium-population county of about 72,269 residents in Alabama. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 12,277 students across 20 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $51,204 a year, 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 16%. That income level is 8% noticeably below the Alabama median.
For a sense of the school types, DeKalb County spans 6 elementary schools (2,755 students), 2 middle schools (1,511), 4 high schools (1,755), and 8 combined or other schools.
DeKalb County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 8,769 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment increased 3%: 11,950 students in SY 2020-21 versus 12,277 in SY 2024-25. DeKalb County now counts 17 public schools, up from 16 in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for DeKalb County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data