Summary:
Zip code 36040, serving the Hayneville area of Lowndes County, Alabama, is home to just one high school—Central High School—a small rural school with 175 students in grades 9-12 operating within the Lowndes County district.
For parents considering this area, the most critical takeaway is that Central High School is struggling significantly on academic measures. The school ranks in the bottom 1-6% of Alabama high schools, with its percentile ranking dropping from 6th in 2023-2024 to just 1st in 2025-2026. Test proficiency rates are alarmingly low: in 2025-2026, only 2% of 11th graders were proficient in math (state: 27.21%), 0% in science (state: 36.17%), and 4.08% in English (state: 33.73%). The graduation rate of 80.4% is 11 points below the state average, and chronic absenteeism sits at 24.8%—double the state rate of 12%. While the school spends a relatively high $15,465 per student and maintains a favorable 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio, these resources have not translated into improved outcomes, as performance has actually declined over the past three years.
Nearly 80% of students at Central High School receive free or reduced lunch, indicating high poverty levels that likely compound educational challenges. The Lowndes County district itself ranks in the bottom 10% of Alabama districts, suggesting systemic issues beyond just this one school. With only about 44 students per grade, the school likely offers limited advanced coursework and extracurricular options. The disconnect between a relatively decent graduation rate and extremely low proficiency scores suggests students may be advancing without mastering core material. Parents should be aware that addressing attendance, instructional quality, and socioeconomic barriers will be essential for any meaningful improvement at this school.
Thank you for your feedback!