Sheffield City, AL - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Sheffield City

Sheffield City Schools is a small district serving from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in northwestern Alabama. The district serves the city of Sheffield, which sits within Colbert County. The district includes four schools: WA Threadgill Primary School, L E Willson Elementary School, Sheffield Junior High School, and Sheffield High School.

For a family considering this district, the academic proficiency numbers are the central reality and a significant soft spot. On the state assessments administered in a recent year, student proficiency rates in mathematics were low across all tested grades, with the share of students meeting the bar ranging from well under a quarter on the low end to just under two-fifths on the high end. English language arts proficiency was higher, with roughly two-fifths to just over half of students meeting the standard depending on grade. Science proficiency was low, with about a quarter of students proficient at the fourth-grade level and about a third at the eighth-grade level. When the district's overall performance across subjects and grades is measured against the other districts in Colbert County, it sits in the bottom quartile. A parent should consider that these results reflect the student body's performance as a whole, and the data available does not break out results by student groups or by individual schools within the district.

Chronic absenteeism is a notable concern. The district's rate of chronic absenteeism places it in the bottom quartile among Colbert County's districts. For context, this means a higher share of students than in neighboring districts are missing enough school to affect their learning. A parent may want to ask the district or individual schools how they are addressing attendance, as this can directly affect classroom pace and academic progress.

The student body is diverse. The racial and ethnic composition includes a sizable share of white students, a similarly sizable share of Black students, and smaller numbers of Hispanic and multiracial students. The district's enrollment is modest for a full PK-12 system. The number of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not reported in the available data, so a complete economic profile is not available here.

The community itself fits a common northwest Alabama pattern. Sheffield is a small city on the Tennessee River, part of a cluster with Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals that collectively forms the region's commercial and cultural spine. Housing costs in the district are well below the national median, with the weighted home value a parent sees from the district's zip codes sitting well under the national benchmark. This makes the area comparatively affordable for homebuyers. Rental options appear limited in the available data, with only a thin presence. The 30-year mortgage rate at the time of this data was in line with broader national conditions, meaning the affordability is driven by the lower base price of homes, not unusually low financing costs.

The district-brief research searched for recent parent-relevant changes such as a new curriculum, a boundary change, a tax referendum, or a policy shift. It found none. The district overview that was available contained general demographic and fiscal data but no specific lasting-impact change to report. A parent moving here should not expect any recent upheaval, but also should not expect any recent initiative that might be driving improvement. The district appears to be in a steady, quiet operational state.

Per-pupil spending in Sheffield City is in the middle range among Colbert County's districts, landing in the upper half. That suggests the district is not underfunded relative to its neighbors, even while its academic results lag theirs. This mismatch between spending and outcomes is something a parent may wish to discuss with the district administration to understand where resources are being directed.

For a family shopping for academic performance, the numbers here are a clear headwind. A parent who can supplement learning at home, who has a child who needs intervention, or who is willing to be an active advocate at the school level may find a fit, especially if the affordability of the housing market is a primary driver. A family seeking a district where high proficiency is the norm across the board will need to weigh these numbers carefully.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

993

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 36%

White 46%

Asian 1%

Two+ 10%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

48%

—

Gr 4

37%

—

Gr 5

40%

—

Gr 6

39%

—

Gr 7

35%

—

Gr 8

42%

—

Math

Gr 3

37%

—

Gr 4

27%

—

Gr 5

22%

—

Gr 7

14%

—

Science

Gr 4

23%

—

Gr 8

33%

—

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Sheffield Junior High School

Sheffield High School

WA Threadgill Primary School

L E Willson Elementary School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

38%

Grade 3

28%

Grade 4

22%

Grade 5

19%

Grade 6

13%

Grade 7

24%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

53%

Grade 3

38%

Grade 4

41%

Grade 5

42%

Grade 6

38%

Grade 7

44%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

22%

Grade 4

35%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$139,135

Year-over-year change+0.1%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$134K to $256K

vs. state typical0.59x

vs. national typical0.38x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
35660	Sheffield	$134K	-0.1%	92.6%
35674	Tuscumbia	$202K	+2.0%	7.4%
35661	Muscle Shoals	$256K	+2.2%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,338/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
35661	Muscle Shoals	$1,338	—	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$702/mo

Home price / national median income1.7x

Annual rent / national median income19.2%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$635/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$236,705 (+1.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.