Summary:
Elba, Alabama is served by a single high school, Elba High School, which enrolls 224 students across grades 7 through 12 within the Elba City district.
For parents considering this area, Elba High School offers a small, personalized environment with a favorable 13.1:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The school serves a predominantly low-income population, with nearly 69% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. Academically, the school shows a clear split between middle and high school performance. Eighth graders significantly outperform 11th graders in every subject, with English proficiency at 53.66% for 8th grade compared to just 11.43% for 11th grade. Math proficiency is a consistent challenge across all grades, ranging from 9.76% to 13.51%, well below state averages. However, the school is showing strong upward momentum, improving its state ranking from the 7th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 27th percentile in 2025-2026, and its graduation rate of 89.1% is close to the state average of 91.5%.
The most pressing concern for Elba High School is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 26.1%—more than double the state average of 12.0%. This likely contributes to the academic gaps, particularly in upper grades. On a positive note, 11th grade math proficiency improved by 55% year-over-year, and middle school English scores approach state averages, suggesting literacy instruction is a relative strength. While the school faces significant socioeconomic challenges, its improving ranking trajectory and targeted gains indicate that recent interventions may be taking effect. Parents should weigh the school's small class sizes and improving trends against the attendance challenges and low math scores when evaluating this option.
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