High Schools in Elmore County

The four public high schools in Elmore County, Alabama—Wetumpka High School, Stanhope Elmore High School, Holtville High School, and Elmore County High School—serve grades 9-12 and collectively enroll about 3,391 students in a district that ranks in the top third of Alabama school systems.

For parents comparing schools, Wetumpka High School stands out as the strongest all-around academic performer, posting the highest average proficiency (44.54%) across math, science, and English in 2025-2026, despite spending the least per student ($8,039) and having the largest enrollment (1,219 students). Holtville High School is a close second with 43.92% average proficiency and leads the district in math (39.29%), while also showing the most consistent improvement in state rankings over three years. Elmore County High School excels in graduation rate (96.3%, well above the state's 91.5%) and English proficiency (56.14% in 2024-2025), but its math scores (26.12%) are the lowest in the district. Stanhope Elmore High School trails in most academic metrics, with the lowest average proficiency (34.66%) and graduation rate (84.5%), and also serves the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (52.2% free/reduced lunch).

District-wide, all four schools outperform the state average in English proficiency, and three of four exceed state averages in science, suggesting strong literacy and STEM instruction. However, chronic absenteeism is a concern everywhere, with every school exceeding the state's 12.0% rate. The data also reveals notable volatility in year-to-year rankings—Wetumpka jumped 82 spots in one year, while Elmore County swung 64 positions—so parents should look at multi-year trends rather than single-year snapshots. Overall, Wetumpka and Holtville offer the most consistent academic results, while Elmore County is the best choice for families prioritizing graduation outcomes.