High Schools in Houston County

The five high schools in Houston County, Alabama, serve approximately 2,361 students across grades 7-12 or 9-12, and the district holds a 4-star rating, ranking 28th out of 139 districts statewide.

For parents, Wicksburg High School is the clear academic leader, ranking 49th in the state with a 98.5% graduation rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism (4.4%), and standout test scores—50% proficiency in 11th-grade math and 45.76% in English, both well above state averages. Its 8th-grade math proficiency (70.97%) is exceptional. Rehobeth High School excels in English (51.76% proficiency, the district's highest) and science (40.7%), though it has the largest class sizes (20.6:1 student-teacher ratio). Cottonwood High School is the turnaround story, jumping 68 spots in state ranking and achieving a perfect 100% graduation rate. Houston County High School shows the most dramatic improvement, climbing 121 positions over two years despite serving the highest-poverty population (74.22% free/reduced lunch). Ashford High School is the main concern, with a 17.3% chronic absenteeism rate—more than triple the district average—and test scores below district norms.

District-wide, English proficiency is a strength, with three of five schools exceeding state averages, but science lags, with only Rehobeth and Wicksburg above the state benchmark. Schools serving grades 7-12 show notably stronger middle-grade performance, suggesting a solid foundation that could be leveraged for high school success. The district's graduation rate (93.1%) exceeds the state average, and four of five schools meet or beat state graduation benchmarks. While economic factors correlate with performance, Houston County High's improvement proves that high-poverty schools can still make significant gains. For parents, Wicksburg offers the strongest overall academics, Rehobeth is best for English, and Cottonwood and Houston County are on promising upward trajectories—though Ashford's attendance issues warrant attention.