Summary:
The city of Hackleburg, Alabama, is served by two schools within the Marion County school district, Hackleburg High School (grades 6-12, 265 students) and Hackleburg Elementary School (grades PK-5, 258 students), which together serve roughly 523 students on a shared campus in this rural Alabama community.
Hackleburg Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking 103rd out of 686 Alabama elementary schools (85th percentile, 4 stars) for 2025-2026 after a remarkable 257-position climb from the 47th percentile just two years prior. It now outperforms state averages in 8 of 9 subject-grade combinations, with particularly impressive results in 5th grade English (92.31% proficiency vs. 69.53% statewide) and 4th grade science (78.95% vs. 50.23% statewide). The school also boasts exceptionally low chronic absenteeism at just 5.5%, less than half the state rate of 12.0%. Hackleburg High School is a solid performer, ranked 81st out of 380 high schools (79th percentile, 4 stars), with a 96.7% graduation rate and strong 8th grade math proficiency (44.74% vs. 26.36% statewide). However, the high school shows a notable transition dip in 6th grade English (44.83% vs. 62.95% district), though students recover by 7th and 8th grades to exceed state averages.
Both schools benefit from low chronic absenteeism and serve a population where roughly 57-58% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The high school spends $3,188 more per student ($11,427 vs. $8,239) than the elementary school, yet the elementary school achieves stronger relative performance. With only 20-40 students per grade level, year-to-year metrics can swing dramatically—3rd grade math dropped from 75% to 56.25% in one year—so rankings should be viewed with some caution. Still, the combination of strong elementary foundations, high graduation rates, and attendance rates nearly half the state average suggests a community success story worth studying, with 8th grade emerging as a particular sweet spot for both math and science achievement.
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