Southern Choctaw High School

Southern Choctaw High School is a small, rural public school in Gilbertown, AL, serving 211 students in grades 7 through 12 within the Choctaw County school district.

The most exciting news from Southern Choctaw is its dramatic academic turnaround. After several years of ranking in the bottom 10% of Alabama high schools, the school jumped to the 33rd percentile in the most recent school year—its highest ranking in years. This improvement is particularly notable for specific groups of students. The school now ranks in the 73rd percentile statewide for the academic performance of its African American students, and in the 61st percentile for students from low-income families. Both are remarkable achievements that show the school is finding ways to help students who often face the biggest challenges. This progress also sets Southern Choctaw apart from its sister school, Choctaw County High School, which fell to the 8th percentile in the same year. Southern Choctaw now outperforms its district peer in nearly every subject and grade level tested.

While the school celebrates these gains, there are still areas that need attention. Math proficiency remains a significant hurdle, with only 12.5% of 11th graders meeting state standards. There is also a noticeable gap between female and male students, with boys scoring considerably lower. Chronic absenteeism is another concern, sitting at 19.4%—higher than both the district and state averages. On a positive note, the school maintains a strong graduation rate of 93.1%, which exceeds the state average. This means students are staying in school and earning their diplomas, even as the school works to boost test scores. For parents, Southern Choctaw represents a school that is clearly moving in the right direction, with proven success in lifting up its most vulnerable students, while still having room to grow in math and in supporting its male students.