Citronelle High School

Citronelle High School is a public high school in Citronelle, AL, serving 734 students in grades 9-12 within the Mobile County school district, where about 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Citronelle shows several notable strengths. The school excels in science, with 11th-grade proficiency rates (32.12%) that beat the district average and come close to the state average—a remarkable jump from the previous year. It also stands out for its work with special education students, ranking in the 76th percentile statewide and earning a 4-star rating, which is far better than most Alabama high schools. Interestingly, male students consistently outperform female students here, which is the opposite of the typical statewide pattern. The graduation rate has climbed steadily to 89.4%, now exceeding the district average. When compared to nearby McIntosh High School in the Washington County district, Citronelle outperforms it across nearly every academic metric—math proficiency is 16.97% vs. 3.85%, science is 32.12% vs. 11.54%, and English is 27.5% vs. 8.33%—despite spending less per student ($10,310 vs. $12,207).

The biggest challenge is chronic absenteeism. While the rate has improved dramatically from a peak of 43.5% in 2021-2022, it still sits at 22.2%—nearly double the state average of 12%. This likely holds back overall achievement, which has been volatile: the school earned a 3-star rating in 2023-2024, dropped the following year, then rebounded to the 48th percentile in 2025-2026. The school has demonstrated it can perform at a higher level, but consistency remains elusive. For parents, Citronelle offers genuine strengths in science and special education, a strong graduation rate, and better outcomes than nearby McIntosh—but attendance is a key area to watch.