High Schools in Lowndes County

The Lowndes County high school system consists of two schools, Calhoun High School and Central High School, both of which appear to be underperforming compared to state averages on various academic measures. The student populations at these schools face significant socioeconomic challenges, with high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, both Calhoun High School and Central High School have very low proficiency rates on the Summative Assessments for 11th-grade students in mathematics, science, and English language arts, with scores significantly below the Lowndes County and Alabama state averages. The schools also have very low rankings within the state, with Calhoun High School ranking 372nd out of 378 high schools and Central High School ranking 355th out of 378 high schools in the 2023-2024 school year.

The student populations at these schools are also overwhelmingly African American, with Calhoun High School having 93.75% African American students and Central High School having 98.31% African American students. This lack of diversity may be a reflection of the broader demographic makeup of Lowndes County, but it also raises questions about educational equity and access for students of different backgrounds. Despite the high per-student spending at both schools, the academic underperformance suggests that funding alone may not be the primary driver of the challenges, and other factors, such as resource allocation, teacher quality, and school leadership, may play a more significant role.