Summary:
Loachapoka, Alabama is served by two schools within the Lee County school district: Loachapoka Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Loachapoka High School (grades 7-12), together serving about 609 students in a community where 76-84% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Both schools face significant academic challenges, but the high school is in a particularly steep decline. Loachapoka High School has fallen from the 46th percentile statewide in 2023-2024 to the 12th percentile in 2025-2026, dropping 130 ranking positions in just two years. Its graduation rate (81.4%) lags far behind the district (92.3%) and state (91.5%). The high school's 11th grade science proficiency is just 6.12% compared to 36.17% statewide, and 11th grade English proficiency is 10.42% versus 33.73% statewide. Meanwhile, Loachapoka Elementary School has remained consistently low, holding a 1-star rating for three straight years with math proficiency ranging from 13-25% across grades 3-6, compared to state averages of 35-45%.
There are a few notable bright spots. Third grade English at Loachapoka Elementary School matches the state average at 64.86%, showing a remarkable 23.79 percentage point improvement from the prior year. Chronic absenteeism is actually better than state averages at both schools (8.7% elementary, 11.3% high school vs. 12.0% statewide), meaning students are attending school. However, the high school spends $20,320 per student—nearly double the elementary school's $11,072—yet produces the worst outcomes, suggesting resources alone aren't solving the problem. The data reveals a pipeline issue: students start with relatively strong 3rd grade English skills but progressively fall behind, reaching just 10.42% proficiency by 11th grade. Science is the most critical weakness across both schools, with gaps of 30-36 percentage points versus state averages.
Thank you for your feedback!