Elba High School

Elba High School is a small public school in Elba, AL, serving 224 students in grades 7-12 within the Elba City district, where nearly 69% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch—a rate significantly higher than nearby schools.

The most striking finding is a major gap in academic performance between male and female students. In the most recent school year, male students ranked in the 71st percentile statewide (4 stars), while female students ranked in the 8th percentile (0 stars)—a 63-percentile-point difference. This suggests the school is effectively supporting its male students but is severely underperforming in its support for female students. Another major concern is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 26.1%—more than double the state average of 12.0% and far higher than nearby New Brockton High School (8.8%) and Straughn High School (10.9%). Academically, the school ranks in the bottom third of Alabama high schools (277th out of 380), with 11th-grade math proficiency at just 13.5%—less than half the state average and well below Opp High School's 45.6%.

Despite these challenges, there are positive signs. The school's overall rank improved from the 16th to the 27th percentile in one year, and the graduation rate jumped from 80.4% to 89.1%. Eighth-grade English proficiency (53.7%) is close to the state average. However, Elba spends $12,527 per student—more than Enterprise High School ($10,185) and Straughn ($9,506)—yet achieves lower outcomes, suggesting that how funds are used may need review. The Covington County, Enterprise City, Opp City, and Coffee County districts all rank in the top 65 statewide, while Elba City ranks 100th. The school's leadership should focus on targeted interventions for female students, improving attendance, and ensuring its relatively high spending translates into better academic results.