The Littlest Giants - Fall 2019

Small and medium-sized locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky with the best rated K-12 educational systems

With this report, Southern Business & Development gives those looking for sites for manufacturing or service projects in the South the K-12 school systems that are graded by Pittsburgh-based research firm Niche as A+ to A-. All of these markets in the South are under 750,000 in city/county population.

Niche’s 2020 Best School Districts ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, along with test scores, college data and ratings collected from millions of Niche users.

Education, particularly K-12, is becoming increasingly important. Growing school districts in each state are vital to employers in order to back-fill labor years from now. And data shows that most excellent school systems, like the ones listed here, are growing while sub-par school systems are not.

In an age where available labor is virtually non-existent, this data of growing, A-rated K-12 schools are incredibly important to site searchers in the economic development process. In fact, last year, 10,000 people on average retired per day and only 2,230 people per day in the U.S. turned working age (16).

The schools listed here are local school systems in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky that were rated with an A score from Niche. They are ranked in order of their Niche score, however, they all received a score of A+, A, or A-.

 

ALABAMA

Mountain Brook Schools, Mountain Brook, Ala. Mountain Brook Schools
Mountain Brook, Ala. (Jefferson County)

Mountain Brook Schools not only lead the state of Alabama on academic performance measures, they are near the top nationally. In the 2012 Alabama Reading and Math Test administered to all public school students from grades 3 through 8, Mountain Brook students led the state of Alabama at every grade level and in every subject area tested with 97–100 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards. The system would, of course, be expected to score well with the advantages of talented students, hard-working teachers and supportive parents.

A recent analysis of statewide scores on the Stanford Achievement Test indicated that Mountain Brook students’ actual scores exceeded their predicted scores at a rate higher than that of any other system in the state. Additional evidence of success has been the large number of National Merit Scholarship Finalists who have attended Mountain Brook High School. Since the school’s founding in 1966, 587 of its students have been recognized in this national scholarship competition. The number of National Merit Finalists continues to increase, with 29 achieving that status this year. Four Rhodes Scholars have also graduated from the high school.

Enterprise City Schools
Enterprise, Ala. (Coffee County)

As the first public school system in Alabama to be fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Enterprise City Schools (ECS) holds a strong reputation for its commitment to providing students the highest quality education possible. ECS recently earned an “A” on the state issued report card while current students enjoy cutting edge learning opportunities, world class facilities, and many extra-curricular and athletic programs.

Importantly, the talented and dedicated staff members believe in building relationships upon strong foundations of trust, creating environments that are safe, clean and intellectually stimulating, and performing quality work. The vision of ECS is to develop principled students prepared for life after graduation. ECS feels strongly about its students becoming deeply rooted in the correct principles in life to include integrity, fidelity, courage, consideration, compassion, justice and responsibility. Further, the hope is that Enterprise High School graduates will have learned about living and how to live happier, healthier and more productive lives because of their experiences in school.

Madison City Schools, Madison, Ala.Other A-rated K-12 school systems in Alabama include: Madison City Schools, Madison, Ala. (Madison County); Homewood City Schools, Homewood, Ala. (Jefferson County); Hoover City Schools, Hoover, Ala. (Jefferson and Shelby Counties); Auburn City Schools, Auburn, Ala. (Lee County); Vestavia Hills City Schools, Vestavia Hills, Ala. (Jefferson County); Trussville City Schools, Trussville, Ala. (Jefferson County); Muscle Shoals City Schools, Muscle Shoals, Ala. (Colbert County); Hartselle City Schools, Hartselle, Ala. (Morgan County); Cullman City Schools, Cullman, Ala. (Cullman County); Florence City Schools, Florence, Ala. (Lauderdale County); Saraland City Schools, Saraland, Ala. (Mobile County); Brewton City Schools, Brewton, Ala. (Escambia County); Winfield City Schools, Winfield, Ala. (Marion County); Satsuma School System, Satsuma, Ala. (Mobile County).

ARKANSAS

Benton School District, Bentonville, Ark.Bentonville School District
Bentonville, Ark. (Benton County)

Bentonville Schools began in 1841 as a subscription school. In 1872, the first public school was built. Encompassing 142 square miles, Bentonville Schools District has always experienced rapid growth. The rapid growth and increase in student population have challenged the district to meet facility needs. Bentonville Schools has successfully met these challenges of change throughout history.

 

Conway School District
Conway, Ark. (Faulkner County)

As the home of three institutions of higher education, Conway, Ark., has earned the distinction as the “City of Colleges.” The University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College and Central Baptist College consistently produce graduates who stay in the area and enter the workforce. This is part of the reason Conway surpasses the state and national averages when it comes to its educational attainment rate.

Conway is also known for its high-performing public and parochial schools. The educational opportunities for students in pre-K through 12th grades have been touted as one of the reasons newcomers are attracted to the city.

Other A-rated K-12 school systems in Arkansas include: Greenwood School District, Greenville, Ark. (Sebastian County); Fayetteville School District, Fayetteville, Ark. (Washington County); Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy, Bentonville, Ark. (Benton County); Lakeside School District, Hot Springs, Ark. (Garland County); Greenbrier School District, Greenbrier, Ark. (Faulkner County); Benton School District, Bentonville, Ark. (Benton County); Bryant School District, Bryant, Ark. (Saline County); Pottsville School District, Pottsville, Ark. (Pope County); eStem High Charter School District, Little Rock, Ark. (Pulaski County); Parker Chapel School District, El Dorado, Ark. (Union County); Cabot School District, Cabot, Ark. (Lonoke County); Prairie Grove School District, Prairie Grove, Ark. (Washington County); Salem School District, Salem, Ark. (Fulton County).

FLORIDA

St. Johns County School District, St. Augustine, Fla.St. Johns County School District
St. Augustine, Fla. (St. Johns County)

Florida’s St. Johns County has consistently been recognized as the state’s top-ranked public school district. The St. Johns County School District has received a grade of “A” consecutively since 2010 from the Florida Department of Education. The district’s success can be contributed to a focus on exceeding educational standards and utilizing best practices to prepare and inspire the county’s youth and residents to follow successful career paths.

The school system prepares students to become highly skilled professionals in diverse and emerging industries such as information technology, advanced manufacturing, aviation/aerospace, financial services and more, supporting the county’s local manufacturers and businesses. Notable companies that call St. Johns County home are Northrop Grumman, Carlisle Interconnect Technology, Rulon International, D.R. Horton and Flagler Health+. St. Johns County is also home to the corporate headquarters of the PGA TOUR, ATP Tour and THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

The school district provides career, technical and adult education through its career academies and technical college to adapt to the changing needs of the students, employers and workforce. The school district works closely with post-secondary educational institutions such as Flagler College, St. Johns River State College, First Coast Technical College and more to offer programming that creates a skilled workforce for the county’s growing business population.

With talented, well-educated residents as well as a great quality of life, multi-modal transportation network, growing regional airport and Foreign Trade Zone designation linked to nearby JAXPORT, St. Johns County is an ideal location for businesses to call home.

Okaloosa County School District
Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Okaloosa County)

The Okaloosa County School District is consistently ranked among the top in the state based on the number of “A” rated schools. The District boasts Florida’s first public STEM middle school, the Okaloosa STEMM Academy. Consistently ranked No. 1 among Florida middle schools, the STEMM Academy enjoys considerable support from local employers including the U.S. Air Force Research Lab, Boeing and others. In addition, the Okaloosa County School District’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) program provides students with nationally recognized industry certifications in pre-engineering, IT, welding construction technology and aviation and aerospace (a program offered in partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University).

Other A-rated K-12 school systems in Florida include: Sarasota County Schools; Seminole County Public Schools; Collier County Public Schools; Martin County School District; Leon County Schools; Clay County School District.

GEORGIA

Buford City School District, Buford, Ga.Buford City School District
Buford, Ga. (Gwinnett County)

Buford City School District is a school district in Gwinnett County, Ga. Buford City Schools was named the No. 1 Best School District in Georgia. Buford Academy was named the No. 1 Best Public Elementary School in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Education announced Buford Academy as a 2014 Highest-Performing School.

Decatur City Schools
Decatur, Ga. (DeKalb County)

City Schools of Decatur has a total enrollment of approximately 5,700 students and operates a total of nine schools: one Early Childhood Learning Center, five K-2 primary lower elementary schools, two 3rd-5th grade upper elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Its teachers are among the finest professionals in the field. Over 70 percent of its teachers hold advanced degrees, most have multiple years of classroom experience, and a number of them hold multiple certifications. The average years of experience among teachers across the district is 13 years.

Decatur City Schools’ students perform above the state and national averages on standardized tests at all grade levels. Each year, City Schools of Decatur has ranked in the top ten districts in Georgia for SAT performance. Decatur High School has been named an AP Challenge and AP Merit school in Georgia.

Other A-rated K-12 school systems in Georgia include: Oconee County Schools, Watkinsville, Ga. (Oconee County); Forsyth County Schools, Cumming, Ga. (Forsyth County); Jefferson City Schools, Jefferson, Ga. (Jackson County); Fayette County Public Schools, Fayetteville, Ga. (Fayette County); Carrollton City Schools, Carrollton, Ga. (Carroll County); Bremen City Schools, Bremen, Ga. (Haralson County); Calhoun City Schools, Calhoun, Ga. (Gordon County); Cartersville City Schools, Cartersville, Ga. (Bartow County); Camden County Schools, Kingsland, Ga. (Camden County); Pierce County Schools, Blackshear, Ga. (Pierce County); Union County Schools, Blairsville Ga. (Union County); Cherokee County Schools, Canton, Ga. (Cherokee County); Monroe County Schools, Forsyth, Ga. (Monroe County).

KENTUCKY

Boyle County Public Schools, Danville, Ky.Boyle County Public Schools
Danville, Ky. (Boyle County)

Boyle County Schools prepare students to enter the workforce or pursue higher education. Career pathways assist students seeking certifications and career readiness in partnership with Bluegrass Community and Technical College. The Work Ethics Seal recognizes students showing academic excellence, extracurricular participation, and college/career readiness within their pathway. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, in partnership with the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce, groups students with local business mentors to develop business management skills. A banking course teaches students about the financial sector and allows them to operate a school bank. Big Rebel News partners with Danville’s Advocate-Messenger to publish student-written articles.

Pikeville Independent Schools
Pikeville, Ky. (Pike County)

Located in the One East Kentucky region’s largest community (Pikeville, Pike County), the Pikeville Independent School (PIS) district is ranked as the fourth “Best School District” in Kentucky and has an enrollment of over 1,200 students. PIS’ partnerships with area postsecondary centers like the University of Pikeville and Big Sandy Community and Technical College, part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, to ensure talent pipeline growth and development for employers. Pikeville is home to UPIKE’s nationally ranked programs like the Kentucky Colleges of Optometry and Osteopathic Medicine, and Pikeville Medical Center — Kentucky’s only Level II trauma center.

Hazard Independent Schools
Hazard, Ky. (Perry County)

Hazard Independent Schools (HIS) is ranked as the sixth “Best School District” in Kentucky and has an enrollment of over 1,000 students. HIS pro-actively works with the One East Kentucky region’s postsecondary institutions like Hazard Community and Technical College, part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, the East Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute and the Hazard Campus of the Galen College of Nursing to ensure that the needs of the community’s high-growth, high-demand industry sectors are met. The region’s largest employer — Appalachian Regional Healthcare’s Hazard ARH Medical Center — is centrally located in Hazard.

Paintsville Independent Schools
Paintsville, Ky. (Johnson County)

Paintsville Independent Schools is ranked first in Niche’s “Safest School Districts in Kentucky” and is listed as the 16th “Best School District” in Kentucky with an enrollment of approximately 800. Paintsville Independent Schools is committed to ensuring students exceed the expectations of future employers through working relationships with postsecondary education partners such as the East Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, part of the Haas Technical Education Center network, and Big Sandy Community and Technical College, part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, to help ensure talent growth throughout the One East Kentucky region. 

Other A-rated K-12 school systems in Kentucky include: Fort Thomas Independent Schools, Fort Thomas, Ky. (Kenton County); Murray County Independent Schools, Murray, Ky. (Calloway County); Beechwood Independent Schools, Fort Mitchell, Ky. (Campbell County); Bowling Green Independent Schools, Bowling Green, Ky. (Warren County); Corbin Independent Schools, Corbin, Ky. (Whitley County; Oldham County Public Schools, Buckner, Ky. (Oldham County); Russell Independent Schools, Russell, Ky. (Greenup County); Campbell County Public Schools, Alexandria, Ky.; McCracken County Public Schools, Paducah, Ky.; Elizabethtown Independent Schools, Elizabethtown, Ky. (Hardin County); Glasgow Independent Schools, Glasgow, Ky. (Barren County); Woodford County Public Schools, Versailles, Ky. (Woodford County).

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