High Schools in Chilton County

Chilton County, Alabama is home to two public high schools—Chilton County High School in Clanton and Jemison High School in Jemison—both serving grades 9-12 within the Chilton County district, which ranks in the bottom third of Alabama districts.

For parents, the standout story is Jemison High School, which has become the district's academic leader despite serving a student body with higher economic need (67% free/reduced lunch). Jemison jumped 60 spots in state rankings over the past year, now sits at the 42nd percentile, and boasts a 92% graduation rate—above both district and state averages. It also leads in science proficiency (31%) and math (15%), while keeping chronic absenteeism lower (10.6%) than its counterpart. In contrast, Chilton County High School has remained stagnant at the 25th-30th percentile with a 2-star rating, a lower graduation rate (88.7%), and a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 14.7%—nearly double the district average. Both schools made dramatic gains in English proficiency this year (Chilton County +10.6 points, Jemison +7.8 points), suggesting a successful district literacy initiative.

However, both schools struggle significantly in mathematics, with proficiency rates around 15% versus the state's 27%. Science is Jemison's clear strength, nearly matching state performance, while Chilton County High School lags in every subject. Notably, Jemison spends about $927 more per student, which may contribute to its stronger outcomes. While the district overall underperforms state averages, Jemison's trajectory—especially its improvement from a 10.7% dropout rate in 2018-2019 to a 92% graduation rate today—demonstrates that meaningful progress is possible even in challenging circumstances. Parents should weigh Jemison's upward momentum and stronger metrics against Chilton County High School's stability, while keeping in mind that both schools face similar systemic challenges in math and overall district performance.