Greensboro High School

Greensboro High School is a small public high school in the rural town of Greensboro, Alabama, serving 276 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Hale County school district.

This school is facing serious academic challenges. State test scores show that only about 3% of 11th graders were proficient in English and about 11% were proficient in math in the most recent school year—rates that are far below already-low district averages. In prior years, math proficiency was at 0%. The school's overall state ranking has slipped to the bottom 8% of Alabama high schools, and it has been in the bottom 12% for the past decade. One notable bright spot: the school performs relatively better for its African American students, ranking in the 20th percentile statewide for that group, compared to the 8th percentile overall. However, there is a significant gender gap, with male students ranking in the 2nd percentile compared to the 12th percentile for female students.

Student engagement is a major concern. Chronic absenteeism runs at 23.3%—nearly double the state average of 12%—and has been persistently high, peaking above 28% in a recent year. This disengagement appears to be taking a toll on graduation rates, which dropped sharply from about 94% to 84% in one year, now well below the state average of 91.5%. There are no other schools within 20 miles for comparison, so families in this area have limited public school options. For parents, the picture is clear: Greensboro High School is in a state of academic emergency, with extremely low proficiency in core subjects, high absenteeism, and a declining graduation rate. While the school shows some relative strength with its African American students, the overall trajectory is downward, and families should be aware that intensive intervention and support will likely be needed to help students succeed here.