High Schools in Covington County

The two public high schools in Covington County, Alabama—Straughn High School and Florala High School—serve students in grades 9-12 (with Florala also covering grades 7-8) in a rural, mid-sized district that ranks in the 65th percentile statewide.

Straughn High School is the stronger performer overall. It has consistently ranked in the top quartile of Alabama high schools, reaching 32nd out of 374 schools (91st percentile) in 2024-2025, and holds a 4- or 5-star rating. Its graduation rate is exceptional at 98.9%, well above the district (95.7%) and state (91.5%) averages. In 11th-grade testing, Straughn students outperformed state averages in every subject—most notably in English, where 54.35% were proficient versus 30.24% statewide. Florala High School has shown dramatic improvement, jumping from the 44th to the 77th percentile in state rankings between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. However, its 11th-grade scores remain a concern—only 11.54% of juniors were proficient in math, compared to 36.96% at Straughn. Florala does excel in 8th-grade science, where 58.82% of students were proficient, above the state average of 54.12%.

Several contrasts stand out. Florala has lower chronic absenteeism (7.8%) than Straughn (10.9%) and the state (12.0%), yet its upper-grade test scores lag significantly—a disconnect worth investigating. Florala also spends more per student ($11,855 vs. $9,506 at Straughn) while achieving lower overall outcomes, suggesting Straughn operates with greater efficiency. Socioeconomically, Florala has a higher share of students on free/reduced lunch (56.22% vs. 43.65%), which often correlates with academic challenges. For parents, Straughn High School offers the most consistent, high-achieving academic environment, while Florala High School shows promising recent gains and strong middle-school science, but families should investigate its upper-grade support systems.