Public schools in Gadsden, AL
19 open public schools with an address in Gadsden, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
19
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,827
16 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
18:1
Alabama median 17.2:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Gadsden public schools
The federal directory lists 19 public schools in Gadsden, AL: 11 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 16 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,827 students, an average of 364 per school. The largest campus is Gadsden City High School (1,361 students), and the largest elementary school is Adams Elementary School (433).
Gadsden City operates the most schools here (15), and 2 regular districts have at least one Gadsden campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 18:1, similar to the statewide school median of 17.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 71% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Gadsden
Elementary schools in Gadsden
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Elementary School Gadsden City | KG–05 | 433 | 18.6:1 | |
| Donehoo Elementary School Gadsden City | PK–05 | 225 | 18.3:1 | |
| Eura Brown Elementary School Gadsden City | PK–05 | 340 | 16:1 | |
| Floyd Elementary School Gadsden City | PK–05 | 384 | 23.9:1 | |
| Gaston Elementary School Etowah County | PK–06 | 290 | 15.9:1 | |
| Highland Elementary School Etowah County | PK–06 | 216 | 18:1 | |
| Mitchell Elementary School Gadsden City | PK–05 | 262 | 14.8:1 | |
| Therapeutic Academic Program Gadsden City · Alternative School | 01–05 | — | — | |
| Thompson Elementary School Gadsden City | PK–05 | 288 | 20.2:1 | |
| W E Striplin Elementary School Gadsden City | KG–05 | 400 | 19.7:1 | |
| Walnut Park Elementary School Gadsden City | PK–05 | 218 | 16.5:1 |
Middle schools in Gadsden
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden Middle School Gadsden City | 06–08 | 438 | 18.6:1 | |
| Litchfield Middle School Gadsden City | 06–08 | 252 | 16.3:1 | |
| Sansom Middle School Gadsden City | 06–08 | 339 | 16.6:1 |
High schools in Gadsden
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C I T Y Program Gadsden City · Alternative School | 06–12 | — | — | |
| Downtown Educational Center Gadsden City · Alternative School | 06–12 | — | — | |
| Gadsden City High School Gadsden City | 09–12 | 1,361 | 17.2:1 | |
| Gaston High School Etowah County | 07–12 | 380 | 19:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Gadsden
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etowah County Special Education Learning Center Etowah County · Special Education School | PK–PK | 1 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White37.2%
- Hispanic19.9%
- Black38%
- Asian0.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial3.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 16 Gadsden schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,827 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Gadsden
How many public schools are in Gadsden, AL?
The current NCES directory lists 19 open public schools with a location address in Gadsden: 11 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 5,827 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Gadsden?
Schools with an address in Gadsden belong to 2 education agencies, led by Gadsden City (15 schools), Etowah County (4 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Gadsden?
Gadsden City High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Gadsden, with 1,361 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Gadsden?
No school with an address in Gadsden is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Alabama.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Gadsden schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Gadsden public schools is 18:1, similar to the Alabama school median of 17.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Gadsden guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Alabama cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Alabama cities