J F Shields High School

J F Shields High School is one of the very small multi-level schools in Beatrice, Alabama, operated by Monroe County, with 179 students on its rolls from grades pre-K through 12. Compared to the state average of about 673 students per school, that is 73% smaller than typical.

J F Shields High School is one of 7 schools operated by Monroe County, a district that enrolls 2,963 students overall.

For racial and ethnic makeup, J F Shields High School shows that 97% of students identify as Black, making the school strongly Black-majority. That is visibly more Black than the county at large, where the share is closer to 42%.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, J F Shields High School has 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 11.9:1. The state averages around 17.9:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Around 81% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Monroe County runs at roughly 67%, so the school's eligibility rate is above the surrounding baseline.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, J F Shields High School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 25.1% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 16.6%.

In the surrounding community, Monroe County reports that median household earnings sit near $42,292, 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 14% of residents live below the federal poverty line. J F Shields High School is one of 9 public schools in Monroe County (combined enrollment of about 2,963 students).

Monroeville Elementary School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 16.4 miles from this campus. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts J F Shields High School at 8th of 8; the average score across the group is 39.9%.

The campus sits in a rural setting.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at J F Shields High School has contracted 31%, going from 260 students in 2018 to 179 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio tightened from 15.5:1 in 2018 to 11.9:1 today.

Inside the community feed, the feed for J F Shields High School typically covers sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.