Best High Schools in Zip Code 36518

Zip code 36518 is home to just one high school, Washington County High School, a combined grade 5-12 school in Chatom, Alabama, serving 395 students in a rural area where nearly half of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

As the only high school in this zip code, Washington County High School presents a mixed picture for parents. The school has experienced a dramatic decline in its state ranking, falling from the 71st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 39th percentile in 2025-2026. Academic performance varies widely by grade and subject. The most concerning area is 7th grade mathematics, where only 2.27% of students are proficient compared to the state average of 24.46%. Math proficiency is low across all grades, ranging from 10.64% in 11th grade to 30.3% in 5th grade, all well below state averages. English performance is more mixed, with 5th graders excelling at 83.33% proficiency (above the state's 69.53%), but this strength fades dramatically by 6th and 7th grades, where proficiency drops to 38.1% and 25% respectively. Science scores are closer to state averages, with 8th grade at 50% and 11th grade at 29.79%.

A significant concern is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 31.1%, which is more than 2.5 times the state average of 12.0% and mirrors the broader Washington County district rate of 30.5%. Despite these academic challenges, the school maintains a graduation rate of 88.6%, only slightly below the state's 91.5%. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1, and per-student spending is $9,113. Parents should note the extreme year-over-year volatility in test scores, particularly the 88% decline in 7th grade math proficiency from the previous year, which may indicate instability in instruction or curriculum. While the school shows genuine strengths in early literacy, the combination of high absenteeism and inconsistent academic performance across grade levels suggests families should carefully consider these factors when evaluating educational options in this area.