Summary:
Aliceville, Alabama is served by the Pickens County school district and contains just two schools: Aliceville Elementary School (grades PK-6, 415 students) and Aliceville High School (grades 7-12, 338 students), together serving roughly 753 students in a community where over 80% of families qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The most striking difference between the two schools is their trajectory. Aliceville High School has collapsed academically, dropping from the 32nd percentile statewide in 2023-2024 to the 5th percentile in 2025-2026 (now ranking 362nd out of 380 high schools). The elementary school, while still struggling, has been more stable, hovering between the 15th and 24th percentile with a slight recent improvement. The high school's math proficiency is catastrophic—0% of 11th graders are proficient in math for two consecutive years, and 7th grade math proficiency sits at just 3.85%. English scores are better at both schools but still lag state averages; for example, 3rd graders hit 48.39% proficiency in English versus 8.06% in math. The high school also suffers from 17.7% chronic absenteeism (versus 7.1% at the elementary school) and a high 26.8:1 student-teacher ratio, despite spending $14,223 per student—49% more than the elementary school's $9,516.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Aliceville Elementary School offers a more stable, if modest, foundation, particularly in early English skills, while Aliceville High School shows a severe, compounding decline in academics and attendance. Surprisingly, the high school still graduates 91.8% of students—above the state average—suggesting diplomas may not reflect true preparedness. The elementary-to-high-school achievement cliff, combined with high poverty and rising absenteeism, points to a system needing urgent intervention, especially in math and at the secondary level.
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