Summary:
Zip code 36319 in Columbia, Alabama, is served by a single public school, Houston County High School, which enrolls 322 students across grades 7 through 12 in the Houston County district.
As the only school in the area, Houston County High School presents a unique profile: it combines middle and high school grades under one roof, and it has shown remarkable momentum. The school’s state ranking has climbed from the 21st percentile to the 53rd percentile in just two years, a 121-position jump. This improvement is most visible in the middle grades, where 7th and 8th graders now exceed state averages in every subject tested. For example, 8th grade science proficiency stands at 66.7% (12.6 points above the state), and 8th grade math is at 45.2% (18.8 points above the state). These gains are recent and dramatic—8th grade science jumped 21.2 points in a single year. The school also maintains a strong 91.6% graduation rate and a chronic absenteeism rate (10.1%) below the state average, despite 74.2% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
However, the picture is uneven. While middle grades thrive, 11th grade performance lags, particularly in math, where only 16.2% of students are proficient—11 points below the state average. Science proficiency at 11th grade (27.0%) also trails the state by 9.2 points. The one bright spot for upperclassmen is English, where 11th graders (40.5%) outperform both the district and state. This split suggests recent instructional improvements are benefiting younger students but have not yet translated to the upper grades. For parents, this means the school offers a strong foundation in the middle years, with a clear challenge ahead in preparing 11th graders for college-level math and science. The rapid upward trajectory, however, suggests the school is on a positive path.
Thank you for your feedback!