High Schools in Washington County

Washington County, Alabama is home to two high schools—Washington County High School and McIntosh High School—serving students in grades 6-12 (with Washington County High also including 5th grade) within the Washington County district, which ranks in the bottom third of Alabama districts.

For parents comparing the two schools, Washington County High School is the stronger performer, ranking 232nd out of 380 Alabama high schools (39th percentile, 2 stars) for 2025-2026, though it suffered a dramatic collapse from its previous 4-star rating. It serves a larger, more economically diverse student body (49.37% free/reduced lunch) and shows pockets of strength, particularly in 5th grade English (83.33% proficient) and 8th grade science (50% proficient). In contrast, McIntosh High School ranks near the bottom of the state at 354th (7th percentile, 0 stars) with higher poverty (77.71% free/reduced lunch) and higher chronic absenteeism (36.3% vs. 31.1%). Despite spending $3,094 more per student ($12,207 vs. $9,113), McIntosh trails significantly in every subject—for example, only 3.85% of its 11th graders are proficient in math compared to 10.64% at Washington County High, both far below the state average of 27.21%.

The most pressing concern for both schools is chronic absenteeism, running at roughly 2.5-3 times the state average (31.1% and 36.3% vs. 12.0% statewide), which likely drives the low test scores. Math proficiency is critically low across all grades, with 0% of McIntosh's 7th and 8th graders proficient in math. Interestingly, both schools maintain graduation rates near the state average (88.6% and 90.9% vs. 91.5%), suggesting students graduate without achieving academic proficiency. Parents should also note Washington County High's inconsistent year-over-year performance—11th grade math proficiency fell from 22.03% to 10.64%—indicating unstable instructional quality. These systemic challenges point to a need for targeted interventions around attendance and early math instruction across the district.