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Dale County

At a glance

25^thof 140 Alabama districts▲ 1

Better than 82% of Alabama districts

Elementary 3 Middle 1 High 4 Alternative 1Grades PK, KG-12

202 S Hwy 123 Suite E
Ozark, AL 36360·(334) 774-2355·All Alabama district rankings →

Statewide performance 2018–2026

2026: better than 82.1% of districts

Schools

3,376

Students

5-star school

Top rankedGeorge W Long High School26^th of 386 Alabama high schools

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Biggest riser

Dale County High School up 81 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

GW Long Elementary School 16.8 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

5★

4★

3★

3 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

Compare Alabama districts →See the top-ranked Alabama schools →

Summary:

Dale County is a compact, 7-school district in southeastern Alabama serving roughly 3,376 students in grades PK-12, and it earns a solid 4-star rating, ranking 25th out of 139 districts statewide.

For parents, the standout is George W Long High School, a 5-star school ranked in the 93rd percentile of Alabama high schools. It posts a 100% graduation rate, the district's lowest chronic absenteeism (3.8%), and 11th grade math proficiency (60%) that is more than double the state average. Its feeder pattern, GW Long Elementary School, is also excellent, with 5th grade math at 80.3%. By contrast, Dale County High School struggles significantly—its 11th grade math proficiency is just 19.81%, and it has the highest chronic absenteeism (8.9%) in the district, despite also reporting a 100% graduation rate. Ariton School, despite its "alternative" label, is a consistent overachiever with a 100% graduation rate, 4.2% absenteeism, and 11th grade math at 47.83%—well above the state. The district's elementary schools are generally strong, but South Dale Middle School shows a notable slump, with 7th grade math at just 24.55% and 6th grade English at 44.44%, suggesting a transition dip. Newton Elementary School shows volatile year-over-year swings (e.g., 6th grade math dropping from 75% to 29.41%), likely due to small cohorts, while Midland City Elementary School serves the highest economically disadvantaged population (69.67% free/reduced lunch) yet still improved 4th grade science by nearly 20 points.

Overall, the district excels at attendance—chronic absenteeism averages just 5.7% versus the 12% state average—and outperforms the state in every major subject, from 3rd grade math (+8.6 points) to 8th grade science (+12.5 points). The biggest takeaway is the stark divide between its two traditional high schools, which likely reflects socioeconomic differences (40.58% vs. 59.04% free/reduced lunch) and creates an equity challenge. While the GW Long pipeline offers a clear path to top-tier outcomes, families should be aware that Dale County High School, despite perfect graduation rates, may not be providing the same level of academic preparation, particularly in math.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2026)							Summative Assessment Science (2026)			Summative Assessment English (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
GW Long Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2567 Co Rd 60	Skipperville	36374	Dale County	Dale County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 774-0021	492	29	16.8	44.7%	389 (79.1%)	51 (10.4%)	20 (4.1%)	8 (1.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.5%)	86.9	73^rd of 686 public elementary schools	89.4%		83.6	93^rd of 680 public elementary schools	86.3%	20	68.2	65.5	80.3	61.2				62.1			84.9	75.9	87.9	70.2				$7,786	$271	$7,514
Ariton School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	264 Creel Richardson Drive	Ariton	36311	Dale County	Dale County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 762-2371	887	49	18.2	47.2%	643 (72.5%)	103 (11.6%)	94 (10.6%)	13 (1.5%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	30 (3.4%)								(n/a)	52.1	45.3	34.3	59.2	43.7	44.0	47.8	54.7	65.3	53.6	77.5	61.3	83.6	80.3	77.5	66.7	50.7	$8,843	$1,101	$7,740
Dale County High School	Public	9-12	11470 County Road 59	Midland City	36350	Dale County	Dale County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 983-3541	437	24	18.4	59.0%	256 (58.6%)	136 (31.1%)	27 (6.2%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	62.5	117^th of 386 public high schools	69.7%		43.2	198^th of 374 public high schools	47.1%	81							19.8			46.2							33.7	$8,490	$1,100	$7,389
George W Long High School	Public	7-12	2565 Co Rd 60	Skipperville	36374	Dale County	Dale County	No	No	No	No	(334) 774-2380	377	21	17.6	40.6%	319 (84.6%)	27 (7.2%)	15 (4.0%)	4 (1.1%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (1.9%)	92.5	26^th of 386 public high schools	93.3%		88.5	35^th of 374 public high schools	90.6%	9					51.5	75.0	60.0		76.6	55.7					72.7	78.1	45.7	$9,811	$1,365	$8,444
Midland City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	48 Second Street	Midland City	36350	Dale County	Dale County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 983-4591	478	24	19.9	69.7%	260 (54.4%)	155 (32.4%)	27 (5.6%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.5%)	56.8	297^th of 686 public elementary schools	56.7%		61.5	263^rd of 680 public elementary schools	61.3%	34	41.4	51.8						52.4			62.6	61.5						$9,207	$1,340	$7,865
Newton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	523 South College St	Newton	36352	Dale County	Dale County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 445-5564	293	16	18.3	57.7%	202 (68.9%)	54 (18.4%)	10 (3.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.5%)	73.3	167^th of 686 public elementary schools	75.7%		78.9	127^th of 680 public elementary schools	81.3%	40	62.9	65.5	79.6	29.4				62.1			70.6	69.0	90.9	50.0				$10,232	$1,898	$8,333
South Dale Middle School	Public	5-8	309 Randolph Street	Pinckard	36371	Dale County	Dale County	No	No	No	Yes	(334) 983-3077	412	19	22.2	69.7%	214 (51.9%)	139 (33.7%)	21 (5.1%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (7.5%)	53.6	200^th of 449 public middle schools	55.5%		52.3	188^th of 439 public middle schools	57.2%	12			50.0	42.5	24.6	34.4			62.5				67.1	44.4	47.3	46.9		$8,049	$1,615	$6,432
Accelerated Learning Center	Public	7-12	3971 S Hwy 231	Ozark	36360	Dale County	Dale County	No	No	No	No	(334) 774-5197																			(n/a)
Bridge Academy	Public	9-12	3971 S Hwy 231	Ozark	36360	Dale County	Dale County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(334) 774-2355																			(n/a)

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Ozark City	7.51 mi	6	98^th
Barbour County	15.33 mi	2	123^rd
Henry County	16.19 mi	6	88^th
Pike County	18.9 mi	8	76^th
Daleville City	19.2 mi	3	114^th

See the top AL Alabama districts

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.