Huntsville City Schools are either very bad or very good (Hampton Cove Elementary, Hampton Cove Middle, Huntsville High, & Grissom are very good). Madison City Schools are either average or very good. The schools in south Huntsville and Hampton Cove and some of the older historical sections of Huntsville are very good.

There is no legislation in Alabama allowing for charter schools so that speaks loudly about the influence the teachers unions have on the teaching process. Yes, the superintendent deserves the criticism and poor performance. Huntsville City School System remains under a Justice Department desegregation order and has for 35 years. Little or nothing is being done to signify to the Federal government that the order has been met. I contend she is happy as the federal government makes the decisions and is her fall back position. Of significance, 20% of Huntsville students attend private, parochial or home school. Do the math, that's one in every five. Randolph private is by far the best school but is very expensive. What is your child's education worth to you? Your best bet may be Athens City sysytem....they are no longer under a federal order to desegregate, I can't speak for their
curriculum or performance.

You have good reason to be worried! My children attend Huntsville City Schools, and I have to say that I believe Madison City Schools are far better. They are in the process of rezoning, though, so question your realtor if you plan to buy in Madison.
You would think that with all the technology, the median income, and the vast pool of well-educated people in Huntsville that we would have outstanding schools. This is not so. The schools seem to be so concerned with testing and with the "No Child Left Behind" act, that the above average students are being left out and are BORED. Our superintendent is largely to blame for this. A fancy new building does NOT make a good school. Also, beware of schools that shove the AR reading program down the students' throats. Many parents praise this program, but all it is is more testing from a pre-selected group of books. It takes the joy out of reading for the sake of reading. It puts emphasis on reading to gain a "prize" in too many of our schools.
Behavior problems are also an issue, especially when the parents of the problem children simply don't care and the problem child has no respect for authority. I do think this could be avoided by attending a private school and we will most likely send our children to a private school beginning with the next school year.