Aliceville High School

Aliceville High School in Aliceville, AL, serves 338 students in grades 7 through 12 within the Pickens County district. The school faces significant socioeconomic challenges, with over 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it currently ranks in the bottom 5% of high schools statewide.

Academically, the most pressing concern is mathematics proficiency. In the most recent testing year, 0% of 11th graders met proficiency standards in math, compared to 12.1% across the district and 27.2% statewide. While English and science scores are also below average, there is one bright spot: 44% of 7th graders are proficient in English, nearly matching the district average. This suggests a potential area of strength to build upon. The school also struggles with chronic absenteeism (17.7% vs. 12% statewide) and a high student-teacher ratio of 26.8, meaning larger class sizes and less individualized attention. By contrast, nearby Gordo High School has a ratio of 21.8 and significantly higher test scores, while Pickens County High School—despite a similarly high poverty rate—ranks in the 65th percentile, showing that high poverty does not have to dictate low performance.

One notable paradox is the school's high graduation rate of 91.8%, which matches the state average, even as proficiency rates remain very low. This suggests students are progressing through school, but may not be mastering core academic content. Additionally, the school's performance has dropped sharply since the 2023-2024 school year, when 11th-grade math proficiency was 29%—a decline that warrants attention. For parents, this means Aliceville offers a supportive path to graduation, but families should be prepared to supplement learning, especially in math, and should monitor attendance closely.