High Schools in Mobile County

The Mobile County school district in Alabama contains 14 public high schools, serving students in grades 9-12. The schools vary significantly in size, with student populations ranging from 38 to 2,421. While the district as a whole is underperforming, with a rank of 94 out of 135 in the state, a few standout schools like WP Davidson High School and Baker High School consistently rank among the top 100-150 high schools in Alabama.

Graduation rates across the district are impressive, with all 14 high schools maintaining a 90% four-year graduation rate, which is above the state average. However, chronic absenteeism is a concern, with an average rate of 14.8% across the schools. Academic performance, as measured by 11th-grade proficiency rates in math, science, and English, varies widely, with some schools like WP Davidson and Baker performing well above the county and state averages, while others, such as Mattie T. Blount and Lillie B. Williamson, have very low proficiency rates.

The data suggests that socioeconomic status, as measured by free and reduced-price lunch rates, is a significant factor in academic performance, with the schools serving more affluent populations generally outperforming those with higher poverty rates. Additionally, the magnet school, John L. Leflore Magnet School, performs relatively poorly compared to the other high schools, raising questions about the effectiveness of the magnet program. Overall, the Mobile County school district faces challenges in addressing the achievement gap and improving outcomes across all its high schools.