Shelby County – Three Shelby County public high schools placed among Alabama’s top public schools in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for the 2026-27 school year. Spain Park, Oak Mountain, and Chelsea all earned national recognition.
Spain Park High School ranked No. 782 nationally and No. 7 in Alabama, with an overall score of 95.64. The school’s AP participation rate is 53%, with 46% of students passing at least one exam. Spain Park ranked No. 5 among Birmingham metro-area high schools.
Oak Mountain High School ranked No. 818 nationally and No. 8 in Alabama, posting an overall score of 95.44 out of 100. The school’s AP participation rate stands at 59%, with 42% of students passing at least one AP exam. Oak Mountain also ranked No. 1 among Shelby County High Schools and No. 6 in the Birmingham metro area.
Chelsea High School ranked No. 2,152 nationally and No. 24 in Alabama, with an overall score of 88.01. The school’s AP participation rate is 53%, with 31% of students passing at least one exam. Chelsea ranked No. 2 among Shelby County High Schools and No. 9 in the Birmingham metro area.
