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Pickens County

Alabama · Public K-12

Pickens County operates 7 public K-12 schools across Alabama, with a combined student body of roughly 2,210 and a county population near 18,721. That works out to 3 elementary and 4 high schools.

7-year change in Pickens County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,210
-352 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
6
-1 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
33%
was 37%
% Hispanic
6%
was 3%
% Black
59%
was 58%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
1 districts
Enrollment
2,210
NCES CCD
Median income
$46,274
Below Alabama avg
Free/reduced lunch
70.4%
Above Alabama avg
Elementary
3
1,134 students
Middle
0
schools
High
4
1,076 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Pickens County Public Schools
2,210 students · 1 district in Pickens County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Pickens 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
White
56%
Hispanic
4%
Black
41%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
33%
Hispanic
6%
Black
59%
Asian
1%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
13.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.7%
civilian labor
Median age
42
19.1% under 18

Test scores in Pickens County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Alabama state average: 53.0%.

See all 6 schools in Pickens County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Gordo Elementary SchoolGordoElementaryPK-06545·
Gordo High SchoolGordoHigh07-12473·
Aliceville Elementary SchoolAlicevilleElementaryPK-06415·
Aliceville High SchoolAlicevilleHigh07-12338·
Pickens County High SchoolReformHigh05-12265·
Reform Elementary SchoolReformElementaryPK-04174·
Pickens County College and Career CenterCarrolltonHigh10-12··

Cities in Pickens County

Aliceville2 schoolsGordo2 schoolsReform2 schoolsCarrollton1 school

About Pickens County

Pickens County is a small county of about 18,721 residents in Alabama. Its public-school system teaches approximately 2,210 students across 7 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $46,274, about 13% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 13%. That income level is 17% noticeably below the Alabama median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Pickens County comprises 3 elementary schools (1,134 students), and 4 high schools (1,076).

The largest single district in Pickens County is Pickens County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 2,210 students.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 14%: 2,562 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,210 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Pickens County lost 1 school, going from 7 to 6. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 37% to 33%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Pickens County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Pickens County?
Pickens County, Alabama has 7 public K-12 schools serving approximately 2,210 students.
How many high schools are in Pickens County?
Pickens County, Alabama has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 1,076 students.
How many elementary schools are in Pickens County?
Pickens County, Alabama has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,134 students.
What is the largest school district in Pickens County?
Pickens County Public Schools is the largest school district in Pickens County, serving approximately 2,210 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
What is the population of Pickens County?
Pickens County, Alabama has a population of approximately 18,721, with a median age of 42. About 19.1% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Pickens County?
Median household income in Pickens County is $46,274, below the Alabama average of $55,552. About 13.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Pickens County?
Approximately 13.1% of adults 25 and older in Pickens County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Pickens County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 70.4% of students in Pickens County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Alabama county average of 60.5%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pickens County schools?
Across Pickens County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 20.2 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Pickens County?
Pickens County residents are approximately 56% White, 4% Hispanic, 41% Black, 0% Asian, 2% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data