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Who We Are

The Colbert County Board of Education, established on August 13, 1914, serves students and families throughout Colbert County as a public county school system. The district is governed by an elected superintendent who serves a four-year term and six board members representing six board districts, each elected to a six-year term.

Academic Excellence and Growth

Colbert County Schools continues to make significant academic progress. The district's Alabama State Report Card score increased six points, from 82 to 88, supported by an outstanding Academic Growth score of 96.75%. Academic Achievement also improved from 61.18 to 67.68.

Schools across the district have contributed to this success. New Bethel Elementary School earned statewide recognition among Alabama schools serving high-poverty populations, ranking 1st in the state for fifth-grade math growth and 2nd in the state for fourth-grade math growth.

Student success is also reflected at the high school level. The district's graduation rate increased from 86.83% to 93.51%, while the College and Career Readiness (CCR) index rose from 80.84% to 88.65%. Together, these gains demonstrate the district's continued commitment to preparing every student for success beyond high school.

Our Schools

Colbert County Schools currently serves 2,529 students across nine schools. Because the district covers a large geographic area, its schools serve several distinct communities throughout Colbert County. Cherokee High School and Colbert County High School, for example, are approximately 28 miles apart from east to west.

The district includes three high schools: Cherokee High School (231 students), Colbert Heights High School (288 students), and Colbert County High School (446 students).

Established in 2025, Colbert Heights Middle School serves 263 students.

The district's five elementary schools are organized into three feeder patterns:

  • Cherokee Elementary School (197 students) → Cherokee High School
  • New Bethel Elementary School (156 students) and Colbert Heights Elementary School (417 students) → Colbert Heights Middle School → Colbert Heights High School
  • Hatton Elementary School (211 students) and Leighton Elementary School (304 students) → Colbert County High School

College and Career Opportunities

Colbert County Schools maintains strong partnerships with Northwest Shoals Community College and the University of North Alabama, providing students with valuable opportunities to begin preparing for college and careers while still in high school.

Through these partnerships and grant funding, eligible students in grades 10–12 can earn up to six hours of dual enrollment college credit per semester at no cost to the student. This opportunity is supported by the district's College and Career Readiness Grant from the Alabama State Department of Education in partnership with the Workforce Development Grant secured by Northwest Shoals Community College.

By removing financial barriers to college coursework, the district's dual enrollment program provides students with an opportunity to earn meaningful college credit before graduation while reducing future college costs for families.

With more than a century of service to the community, Colbert County Schools remains focused on academic growth, college and career readiness, and creating opportunities that prepare every student for a successful future.

Our Community

The Colbert County School District is located in the scenic northwest corner of Alabama in the region known as The Shoals. Bordered by the Tennessee River to the north and the Mississippi state line to the west, Colbert County encompasses more than 600 square miles of natural beauty, rich history, and Southern hospitality.

The county's history stretches back to the Cherokee and Chickasaw people and early French traders who were drawn to the Tennessee River in the early 1700s. The name “Muscle Shoals” is believed to have ties to the river's once-challenging shoals and the freshwater mussels found in its waters.

Today, Colbert County is widely recognized for its remarkable musical heritage. The Muscle Shoals area helped shape American music through legendary artists and musicians such as W.C. Handy, Percy Sledge, and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section—better known as “The Swampers.” Historic destinations such as FAME Recording Studios and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame continue to celebrate the area's lasting influence on the music industry.

Colbert County is also home to Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, along with unique attractions such as Rattlesnake Saloon and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals. The area welcomes visitors from around the world who come to experience its history, music, recreation, and natural beauty.

The district is proud of the many accomplished individuals who have called Colbert County home, including Colbert County Schools graduates and professional athletes Ozzie Newsome and Ed West.

With a unique combination of history, culture, recreation, and community, Colbert County remains a wonderful place to live, work, learn, and play.