Summary:
Zip code 35404, in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama area, is served by a single high school, Holt High School, which enrolls 456 students in grades 9-12 within the Tuscaloosa County district.
For parents considering this area, Holt High School presents a mixed picture. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Alabama high schools over the past three years, earning just 1 star each year. Academic proficiency on the 11th-grade summative assessment is well below state averages—for example, only 9.35% of students are proficient in math and 12.75% in English (2025-2026), compared to state rates of 27.21% and 33.73%, respectively. The school also serves a high-poverty population, with 78.29% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. However, there are notable strengths. The graduation rate is a strong 94.8%, exceeding both the district (92.4%) and state (91.5%) averages. Chronic absenteeism is also remarkably low at just 7.0%, roughly half the state average of 12.0%, indicating students are consistently attending school.
Encouragingly, there are signs of improvement. Between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, math proficiency jumped from 5.62% to 9.35% (a 66% relative increase), and English proficiency rose from 6.82% to 12.75% (an 87% increase), though science dipped slightly. The school spends a robust $17,319 per student, yet outcomes remain low, suggesting that external socioeconomic factors play a significant role. While the Tuscaloosa County district itself trails state averages, Holt High School performs notably below even its own district, indicating school-specific challenges. Overall, this is a school with committed attendance and strong graduation support, but significant academic hurdles remain, though recent gains in math and English offer cautious optimism for gradual progress.
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