Best High Schools in Zip Code 35962

Zip code 35962 is home to just one high school, Crossville High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 and enrolls 649 students in the rural Crossville area of DeKalb County, Alabama.

For parents considering this school, the most striking takeaway is the contrast between its strong graduation rate and its very low academic proficiency. Crossville graduates 95.2% of its students, beating the state average of 91.5%, yet only 9.63% of 11th graders are proficient in English and just 11.35% in math—both far below the state averages of 33.73% and 27.21%, respectively. This "graduation paradox" suggests the school is effective at moving students to diplomas, but the academic foundation may be weak. The school also serves a predominantly low-income population, with 83.82% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, and it carries a 1-star rating, ranking in the bottom quintile of Alabama high schools (18th percentile for 2025-2026). Chronic absenteeism is a major concern at 21.4%, more than double the DeKalb County district rate of 10.6%, which likely contributes to the low test scores.

There are some positive signs. Science proficiency jumped from 14.11% to 21.99% in one year—a 56% relative improvement—suggesting targeted interventions may be working in that subject. The student-teacher ratio is a reasonable 17:1, and per-student spending is $8,679. However, the school's relative position has slipped from the 22nd to 18th percentile over the past three years, meaning it is not improving as quickly as other Alabama schools. With English proficiency at just 29% of the state average and absenteeism so high, Crossville faces systemic challenges. The strong graduation rate and improving science scores offer hope, but parents should be aware that significant academic gaps exist, particularly in literacy and math, and that the school likely needs comprehensive intervention in attendance and core instruction.