Summary:
The Andalusia City School District in Alabama serves approximately 1,823 students across three schools—Andalusia Elementary School (PK-6), Andalusia Junior High (7-8), and Andalusia High School (9-12)—with a district-wide 4-star rating and a majority of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
For parents, the standout is Andalusia Elementary School, which ranks in the 84th percentile statewide and consistently beats state averages by double digits—3rd grade math proficiency is 73% versus 45% statewide, and 5th grade English hits 81% versus 69.5%. Andalusia Junior High is a rising star, ranking 53rd of 439 Alabama middle schools, with a remarkable 15-point jump in 7th grade math proficiency (now 53.7% vs. 24.5% statewide) and strong 8th grade science scores. However, Andalusia High School is the district's weak link: it ranks 104th of 380 high schools, and 11th grade English proficiency has dropped to 27.2%—6.5 points below the state average—though its graduation rate (95.8%) exceeds the state's 91.5%.
The most striking pattern is a performance cliff: elementary students outperform state averages by 10-28 points, but by 11th grade they fall behind in English and barely match state math averages. Chronic absenteeism mirrors this decline, rising from 5.6% at the elementary school to 11.1% at the high school. Notably, the high school spends 39% more per student ($11,290) than the elementary school ($8,630) yet produces the weakest results. The 8th grade English dip (54.2% vs. 58.5% statewide) is an anomaly worth investigating, while science remains a hidden strength across all levels. The district's 7th grade math breakthrough offers a model for improvement, and parents should watch how the district addresses secondary-level engagement and resource allocation to reverse the downward trend.
Thank you for your feedback!