Coosa County

Coosa County Schools is a small, rural Alabama district serving 751 students across just two schools: Central Elementary School (grades K-6) and Central High School (grades 7-12). The district ranks in the bottom 20% of Alabama districts with a 1-star rating, and both schools serve a high-poverty population, with 67-77% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Between the two schools, Central High School shows more momentum and volatility. It jumped from a 2-star to a 3-star rating in 2024-2025, climbing 74 spots in the state rankings to the 55th percentile, before slipping back to a 2-star rating the following year. That peak year included an 11th-grade English proficiency rate that actually exceeded the state average by nearly 12 points. In contrast, Central Elementary School is more consistent but generally weaker, hovering between the 22nd and 31st percentiles. Its one clear bright spot is 5th-grade English, where 72.31% of students are proficient—outperforming the state average—though the same cohort scored just 38.6% in 4th-grade English the year before, suggesting an exceptional teacher or a uniquely strong class rather than a systemic strength.

Math is a critical weakness at both schools, with proficiency rates in the single digits or low teens at most grade levels, and 8th-grade science shows the largest gap in the district at 14.29% proficiency versus 54.12% statewide. However, chronic absenteeism at both schools (10.2% and 11.2%) is actually below the state average of 12.0%, meaning students are showing up to class. The district's graduation rate of 87.1% trails the state by 4.4 points. Given the small cohort sizes, year-over-year swings can be dramatic, but the high school's 2024-2025 performance demonstrates that above-median results are possible even with significant economic challenges.