Summary:
Gilbertown, Alabama, is served by two schools within the Choctaw County school district, which together educate roughly 499 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a small, rural community facing significant economic challenges.
For parents, the standout choice in this area is Southern Choctaw Elementary School, which consistently outperforms its district in every subject and grade level tested. It shows particular strength in 3rd grade English Language Arts (72.73% proficiency, exceeding the state average) and boasts a dramatic turnaround in 4th grade science, jumping from 21.95% to 59.38% proficiency in one year—now above the state average. The elementary school also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (10.9%) than the district and state, and its state ranking improved to the 40th percentile (2 stars). In contrast, Southern Choctaw High School struggles academically, with only 12.5% of 11th graders proficient in math and 21.88% in ELA. Its one clear strength is a 93.1% graduation rate, which exceeds both district and state averages. However, the high school faces a critical challenge: math proficiency collapses in middle school, with just 3.7% of 8th graders proficient, and chronic absenteeism is high at 19.4%.
Both schools share a campus and serve predominantly low-income families (71-77% free/reduced lunch). While the elementary school is a relative bright spot, the transition to 7th grade marks a steep academic drop-off, particularly in math. The high school spends nearly $2,000 more per student ($12,337 vs. $10,403) yet achieves far weaker results, suggesting the additional funding isn't translating into academic gains. Both schools improved their state rankings in 2025-2026, indicating some district-wide progress, but they remain below state averages in most subjects. For parents, the elementary years show promise, but the middle and high school years present significant academic hurdles that will require close attention and support.
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