High Schools in Cleburne County

Cleburne County High School and Ranburne High School are the two public high schools in Cleburne County, Alabama, serving roughly 1,081 students across grades 5-12 in a rural setting, with both schools operating under the same district that ranks in the top quarter of Alabama districts.

Both schools are strong on graduation, with Ranburne High School leading the district at 98.2% and Cleburne County High School close behind at 96.3%—both well above the state average of 91.5%. In 11th-grade English, both schools beat the state average, with Ranburne at 42.55% proficiency and Cleburne County at 36.45%, compared to 33.73% statewide. However, math is a clear weakness: Cleburne County posts 23.85% proficiency, while Ranburne lags significantly at just 16.33%, far below the state’s 27.21%. Ranburne shows the most dramatic improvement, including a 17-point jump in 11th-grade English and a 26-point surge in 5th-grade math in one year, while Cleburne County has climbed 48 spots in state rankings over three years. Cleburne County also excels in 8th-grade science at 54.9% proficiency, though both schools see sharp declines in science and math by 11th grade, suggesting a challenging transition to upper-level coursework.

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with Cleburne County High School at 15.5% and Ranburne at 12.4%, both above the state average of 12.0%. Resources are similar—per-student spending is nearly identical ($9,787 vs. $9,570) and student-teacher ratios are comparable (19.6:1 vs. 20.2:1)—so performance gaps likely stem from school-specific factors. For parents, Ranburne offers the highest graduation rate and fastest academic gains, while Cleburne County provides consistent improvement and stronger math and science scores in early high school. Both schools share a common challenge in math achievement and attendance, making those areas key targets for improvement.