Johnson Abernathy Graetz High School

Johnson Abernathy Graetz High School is a large public high school in Montgomery, AL, serving 1,587 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Montgomery County school district.

The most pressing concern for parents is the school's chronic absenteeism crisis. With 53.9% of students chronically absent in 2024-2025—more than double the district average of 25.2% and over four times the state average—this is the single biggest barrier to learning. The impact is clear in academic outcomes: only 7.49% of 11th graders were proficient in math in 2025-2026, compared to 27.21% statewide. The graduation rate has been volatile, dropping to 52.8% in 2022-2023 before recovering to 77.6% in 2024-2025, still well below the state average of 91.5%. The contrast with nearby Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, which has just 6.3% chronic absenteeism and 94-97% proficiency rates, illustrates how dramatically attendance and achievement are linked.

There are, however, genuine bright spots. The school's English Language Learner program has improved remarkably, jumping from the 24th percentile statewide to the 80th percentile in just two years—a testament to what targeted interventions can achieve. Graduation rates have also improved significantly from the catastrophic 2022-2023 low. That said, the school faces significant challenges beyond attendance: math proficiency has been extremely low (0.87% in 2024-2025), and performance for students receiving special education services has declined sharply. The school spends $9,025 per student, less than some struggling peers like Carver Senior High School ($11,100) and far less than McIntyre Comprehensive Academy ($38,362). For parents, the path forward is clear: aggressive attendance interventions are essential, and the school's ELL success shows that meaningful improvement is possible when programs are well-designed and consistently implemented.