Booker T Washington High

Booker T Washington High in Tuskegee, AL, is a public school in the Macon County district serving 656 students in grades 7 through 12, where the vast majority of families qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school faces significant challenges, most notably in math and attendance. Only about 5% of 11th graders are proficient in math, compared to the state average of 27%, and the numbers are even lower in 7th grade. English scores are also below state averages, though there is a bright spot: 7th graders show much stronger English skills (43% proficiency) than 11th graders (6%), suggesting a promising middle school program that isn't carrying through to high school. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with nearly 37% of students missing significant school days—three times the state average. This rate has spiked as high as 51% in recent years, which directly impacts learning. On a positive note, the school earns a 3-star rating for its work with African American students, performing better for this group than for others.

Compared to nearby schools, the picture is mixed. Bullock County High School (18.7 miles away) has similar demographics and test scores, but Booker T Washington has a higher graduation rate (81% vs. 76%) and lower absenteeism. However, Loachapoka High School (15.8 miles away) serves a similar percentage of low-income families yet achieves nearly triple the math proficiency and has dramatically lower absenteeism (11% vs. 37%), showing that poverty doesn't have to dictate these outcomes. More affluent schools like Reeltown High School and Tallassee High School post higher scores and graduation rates, but the comparison with Loachapoka suggests targeted work on attendance and academic support could make a real difference here.