By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Multiple school systems serving Shelby County have some of the most diverse student populations in the state, according to a list recent compiled by the national school-ranking website Niche.com.

The website recently released its 2019 list of the most diverse school systems in Alabama, and three local school systems made it into the top 50.

The rankings were based on ethnic diversity statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and student and parent reviews of ethnic, economic and cultural diversity, according to the website.

Forty-five percent of each system’s diversity rating was based on student racial diversity, 25 percent was based on parent and student surveys, 20 percent was based on percentage of students classified as economically disadvantaged and 10 percent was based on gender diversity.

Pelham City Schools placed the highest of Shelby County districts, coming in at No. 10 on the website’s list. PCS, which serves 3,034 students at four schools, earned an overall grade of B+ and a diversity grade of A.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, PCS has a 50-50 balance between male and female students, 51.8 percent of its students are white, 29.6 are Hispanic, 13 percent are black, 3.2 percent are Asian, 2 percent are multiracial and 0.4 percent are Native American.

Alabaster City Schools followed closely behind Pelham, coming in at No. 14 on the Niche.com list. ACS serves 6,103 students in seven schools, and earned an overall grade of A- and a diversity grade of A.

ACS has an 51-49-pecent split between male and female students, 59.9 percent of its students are white, 18.7 percent are black, 17.3 percent are Hispanic, 2.6 percent are multiracial, 1.2 percent are Asian, 0.2 percent are Native American and 0.1 percent are Pacific islander.

Hoover City Schools, which serves students in both Shelby and Jefferson counties, came in at No. 26 on the list. HCS serves 13,910 students at 18 schools, earned an overall grade of A+ and a diversity score of A.

Hoover schools have a 52-48-percent split between male and female students, 58.5 percent of its students are white, 25.5 percent are black, 7.2 percent are Hispanic, 6.7 percent are Asian, 2 percent are multiracial, 0.1 percent are Pacific islander and 0.1 percent are Native American.

To view the entire rakings, visit Niche.com/k12/search/most-diverse-school-districts/s/alabama.