Summary:
The Ozark City school district in Alabama serves approximately 1,905 students across four schools (PK-12) and currently holds a 2-star rating, ranking 98th out of 139 districts in the state.
For parents, the standout school in this district is Harry N Mixon Intermediate School. Despite having the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (80.16% free/reduced lunch), it posts the strongest academic results. Mixon exceeds state averages in 3rd and 4th grade math, nearly matches the state in 5th grade English, and has the lowest chronic absenteeism in the district at just 6.0%. It achieves these outcomes with the second-lowest per-student spending ($9,386), making it a model of efficiency. In contrast, Carroll High School shows the most dramatic improvement, with math proficiency more than doubling from 7.75% to 15.65% year-over-year, and a graduation rate of 95.4% that exceeds the state average. However, its absolute scores remain below state norms, and it has the highest chronic absenteeism (16.6%) despite having the lowest poverty rate in the district.
The most concerning trend is the "middle school cliff" at D A Smith Middle School. While Mixon students average 43.89% math proficiency, D A Smith students drop to just 14.0%, with 8th grade math proficiency at a startling 5.34%—a 68% decline between grade bands. English consistently outperforms math across all schools, with 8th grade English proficiency nearly eight times higher than math. The 7th grade math slump (from 25% to 11.67% proficiency) suggests a curriculum alignment issue. Notably, Joseph W Lisenby Primary School has no recent test data, creating a gap in understanding early learning foundations. Overall, the district trails state averages in most subjects, but its high graduation rate indicates strong student retention despite academic challenges.
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