Summary:
In zip code 36201, there is exactly one high school, Wellborn High School, a public school in the Calhoun County district serving grades 7 through 12 with 425 students.
For parents considering this area, Wellborn High School presents a mixed picture. The most striking finding is the dramatic difference between its middle school grades and its high school grades. In the most recent data, 8th graders are outperforming the state in math (31.58% proficient vs. 26.36% statewide) and English (78.95% vs. 58.53%). However, by 11th grade, proficiency plummets to just 9.59% in math and 23.29% in English, both well below state averages. This suggests a significant academic decline as students progress through the school. The school's overall state ranking has also dropped sharply, from the 55th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 31st percentile in 2025-2026, a major red flag for families. The graduation rate of 87.1% is below both the district (95.4%) and state (91.5%) averages, and chronic absenteeism at 15.5% is notably higher than the state average of 12.0%.
On a positive note, the student-teacher ratio is a favorable 14.9:1, suggesting students may receive more individualized attention. However, with 68.24% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the school faces significant socioeconomic challenges. The data shows that while younger students demonstrate strong academic capability, this success does not carry through to the high school years. The combination of a sharp ranking drop, low 11th-grade proficiency, high chronic absenteeism, and a below-average graduation rate indicates a school struggling to maintain student achievement through the final years of secondary education. Parents should be aware that while the middle school program appears to be a strength, the high school experience may require additional support and monitoring to ensure academic success.
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