Houston County High School

Summary:

Houston County High School is a public high school located in Columbia, Alabama, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 322 students. The school is part of the Houston County school district, which is ranked 40 out of 137 districts in Alabama and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Houston County High School has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of African American (45.34%) and Hispanic (8.39%) students, it has consistently underperformed in academic measures. The school's proficiency rates in Mathematics (10.42% for 11th grade) and English (10.42% for 11th grade) are significantly lower than the state and Houston County averages. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 66.78% to 84.85% over the past three school years, indicating a high proportion of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

Compared to the nearby schools in the Houston County district, such as Cottonwood High School and Ashford High School, Houston County High School generally underperforms in academic measures, including standardized test scores and statewide rankings. The school's declining academic performance, coupled with the high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, suggests that factors such as access to resources, parental involvement, and targeted interventions may be areas that need further investigation and improvement.


Detail:

Public 7-12

 200 W Church St
       Columbia, AL  36319-3522


(334) 696-2221

District: Houston County

SchoolDigger Rank:
298th of 378 Alabama High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,708 Help


Feeder schools for Houston County High School:

Elementary:    Webb Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.1 Help
Number of students:  322

Racial breakdown:

African American:
45.3%
White:
43.2%
Hispanic:
8.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  81.4% Help


 See top rated Alabama high schools

 Compare Houston County High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Houston County High School ranks better than 51.4% of middle schools in Alabama. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 48.57. (See more...)
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Compare Details Houston County High School ranks worse than 78.8% of high schools in Alabama. It also ranks last among 5 ranked high schools in the Houston County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.64. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Houston County High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (45.3%), White (43.2%), Hispanic (8.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 81.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Houston County School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Houston County High School is 16.1, which is the 2nd best among 5 high schools in the Houston County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Houston County High School employs 20 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Houston County High School is $10,708, which is the highest among 6 high schools in the Houston County School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Houston County High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Houston County High School 215th of 442 Alabama public middle schools. (See Houston County High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Houston County High School 298th of 378 Alabama public high schools. (See Houston County High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:


Houston County:

SchoolDigger ranks Houston County 40th of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Houston County High School?

Rank History for Houston County High School

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Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 40.57 254th 407 37.6%
2005 43.25 252nd 415 39.3%
2006 38.08 278th 409 32.0%
2007 68.57 111th 412 73.1%
2008 67.69 109th 417 73.9%
2009 42.15 268th 425 36.9%
2010 53.04 218th 435 49.9%
2011 41.54 279th 435 35.9%
2012 63.26 154th 436 64.7%
2013 79.92 42nd 436 90.4%
2014 77.47 63rd 438 85.6%
2015 63.67 119th 430 72.3%
2016 66.00 116th 432 73.1%
2017 53.95 185th 432 57.2%
2018 64.20 138th 423 67.4%
2019 54.60 192nd 437 56.1%
2021 37.33 281st 440 36.1%
2022 47.66 214th 432 50.5%
2023 34.56 290th 437 33.6%
2024 48.57 215th 442 51.4%
See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 65.38 52nd 254 79.5%
2021 47.55 117th 274 57.3%
2024 43.41 138th 281 50.9%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 83.05 32nd 396 91.9%
2019 67.72 98th 396 75.3%
2021 50.66 195th 415 53.0%
2022 45.01 223rd 421 47.0%
2023 36.36 272nd 410 33.7%
2024 56.97 163rd 437 62.7%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 58.64 137th 380 63.9%
2018 74.26 77th 392 80.4%
2019 56.41 160th 399 59.9%
2021 44.36 228th 415 45.1%
2022 46.85 221st 423 47.8%
2023 40.98 248th 417 40.5%
2024 47.94 210th 426 50.7%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 46.63 202nd 380 46.8%
2018 51.75 190th 397 52.1%
2019 50.12 203rd 399 49.1%
2021 31.24 299th 418 28.5%
2022 46.62 207th 427 51.5%
2023 29.27 312th 419 25.5%
2024 46.23 219th 428 48.8%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 59.38 54th 205 73.7%
2018 68.94 54th 247 78.1%
2019 57.06 78th 252 69.0%
2021 47.91 103rd 266 61.3%
2022 31.02 194th 271 28.4%
2023 36.89 157th 263 40.3%
2024 54.74 88th 269 67.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 38.93 132nd 247 46.6%
2018 64.37 80th 331 75.8%
2019 52.15 138th 343 59.8%
2021 36.22 236th 369 36.0%
2022 58.25 127th 376 66.2%
2023 25.31 302nd 370 18.4%
2024 46.40 181st 373 51.5%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Houston County High School

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Compare

Rank History for all high school students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 55.91 161st 357 54.9%
2005 36.60 273rd 359 24.0%
2006 33.46 299th 357 16.2%
2007 22.45 319th 358 10.9%
2008 32.89 290th 359 19.2%
2009 36.22 272nd 357 23.8%
2010 20.76 324th 358 9.5%
2011 47.95 227th 360 36.9%
2012 42.24 255th 358 28.8%
2013 46.32 253rd 358 29.3%
2014 45.68 192nd 358 46.4%
2015 31.58 250th 353 29.2%
2016 59.47 125th 351 64.4%
2017 43.94 184th 353 47.9%
2018 38.14 234th 356 34.3%
2019 21.56 285th 366 22.1%
2021 12.53 337th 371 9.2%
2022 56.51 134th 367 63.5%
2023 32.25 244th 371 34.2%
2024 21.64 298th 378 21.2%
See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 50.33 134th 315 57.5%
2018 31.61 246th 349 29.5%
2019 26.22 269th 358 24.9%
2021 21.74 294th 361 18.6%
2022 58.01 118th 361 67.3%
2023 43.71 180th 349 48.4%
2024 37.49 233rd 375 37.9%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 53.45 133rd 343 61.2%
2018 48.78 180th 347 48.1%
2019 17.39 298th 354 15.8%
2021 21.20 288th 359 19.8%
2022 32.83 241st 367 34.3%
2023 34.97 215th 358 39.9%
2024 30.24 256th 366 30.1%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 35.21 214th 339 36.9%
2018 30.49 251st 350 28.3%
2019 26.89 259th 357 27.5%
2021 8.53 359th 366 1.9%
2022 80.09 60th 366 83.6%
2023 30.04 248th 358 30.7%
2024 15.93 323rd 368 12.2%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 42.93 98th 189 48.1%
2018 25.21 183rd 223 17.9%
2019 29.81 160th 224 28.6%
2021 35.01 145th 228 36.4%
2023 44.00 111th 224 50.4%
2024 26.90 182nd 231 21.2%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Houston County High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 44.46 108th 230 53.0%
2018 49.97 130th 300 56.7%
2019 19.80 269th 313 14.1%
2021 6.83 315th 319 1.3%
2022 62.82 94th 326 71.2%
2023 33.89 196th 317 38.2%
2024 23.47 259th 325 20.3%
See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Houston County High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Houston County High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 645 645
1989 445 215 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 660
1990 426 214 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 640
1991 447 204 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 651
1992 468 201 0 2 1 n/a n/a 0 672
1993 450 193 0 5 1 n/a n/a 0 649
1994 438 170 0 5 2 n/a n/a 0 615
1995 405 180 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 588
1996 405 180 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 588
1997 417 166 0 1 3 n/a n/a 0 587
1998 392 157 1 3 3 n/a n/a 0 556
1999 313 136 3 1 3 n/a n/a 0 456
2000 302 135 3 1 4 n/a n/a 1 446
2001 279 124 1 2 3 n/a n/a 0 409
2002 279 128 1 3 1 n/a n/a 0 412
2003 279 128 1 3 1 n/a n/a 0 412
2004 276 145 6 3 1 n/a n/a 0 431
2005 253 155 11 4 1 n/a n/a 0 424
2006 274 180 2 5 0 n/a n/a 0 461
2007 245 170 1 4 0 n/a n/a 0 420
2008 225 178 0 5 1 n/a n/a 0 409
2009 228 171 2 7 0 n/a n/a 0 408
2010 217 162 0 9 0 n/a n/a 0 388
2011 206 158 0 7 1 0 1 0 373
2012 217 141 0 13 1 1 1 0 374
2013 189 146 0 16 2 1 7 0 361
2014 185 150 0 16 3 1 5 0 360
2015 174 141 0 17 2 0 3 0 337
2016 168 134 0 19 2 0 4 0 327
2017 176 154 0 23 1 0 5 0 359
2018 183 157 0 26 1 0 6 0 373
2019 192 154 0 25 0 0 5 0 376
2020 178 143 0 24 1 0 6 0 352
2021 156 136 0 31 1 0 6 0 330
2022 138 113 0 25 1 0 6 0 283
2023 139 146 0 27 2 1 7 0 322

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Houston County High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 645 38.0 16.9 0
1989 660 39.0 16.9 n/a
1990 640 37.0 17.2 0
1991 651 38.0 17.1 n/a
1992 672 37.0 18.1 n/a
1993 649 37.0 17.5 n/a
1994 615 37.6 16.4 n/a
1995 588 36.5 16.1 n/a
1996 588 36.5 16.1 n/a
1997 587 35.2 16.7 34.6
1998 556 34.4 16.2 30.9
1999 456 28.0 16.3 48.5
2000 446 28.0 15.9 51
2001 409 27.8 14.7 54.8
2002 412 23.5 17.5 55.1
2003 412 23.5 17.5 55.1
2004 431 24.5 17.6 57.1
2005 424 26.0 16.3 56.8
2006 461 25.0 18.4 95
2007 420 25.3 16.6 64.3
2008 409 25.0 16.4 66.7
2009 408 22.8 17.7 69.4
2010 388 23.0 16.8 71.9
2011 373 22.0 16.9 73.7
2012 374 22.0 17.0 79.7
2013 361 21.0 17.1 77.6
2014 360 25.0 14.4 81.4
2015 337 23.0 14.6 81.3
2016 327 21.0 15.5 78
2017 359 21.0 17.0 75.5
2018 373 23.0 16.2 80.2
2019 376 23.0 16.3 80.9
2020 352 24.0 14.6 73.3
2021 330 23.0 14.3 84.8
2022 283 19.0 14.8 66.8
2023 322 20.0 16.1 81.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Houston County High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 645 38.0 16.9 0
1989 660 39.0 16.9 n/a
1990 640 37.0 17.2 0
1991 651 38.0 17.1 n/a
1992 672 37.0 18.1 n/a
1993 649 37.0 17.5 n/a
1994 615 37.6 16.4 n/a
1995 588 36.5 16.1 n/a
1996 588 36.5 16.1 n/a
1997 587 35.2 16.7 34.6
1998 556 34.4 16.2 30.9
1999 456 28.0 16.3 48.5
2000 446 28.0 15.9 51
2001 409 27.8 14.7 54.8
2002 412 23.5 17.5 55.1
2003 412 23.5 17.5 55.1
2004 431 24.5 17.6 57.1
2005 424 26.0 16.3 56.8
2006 461 25.0 18.4 95
2007 420 25.3 16.6 64.3
2008 409 25.0 16.4 66.7
2009 408 22.8 17.7 69.4
2010 388 23.0 16.8 71.9
2011 373 22.0 16.9 73.7
2012 374 22.0 17.0 79.7
2013 361 21.0 17.1 77.6
2014 360 25.0 14.4 81.4
2015 337 23.0 14.6 81.3
2016 327 21.0 15.5 78
2017 359 21.0 17.0 75.5
2018 373 23.0 16.2 80.2
2019 376 23.0 16.3 80.9
2020 352 24.0 14.6 73.3
2021 330 23.0 14.3 84.8
2022 283 19.0 14.8 66.8
2023 322 20.0 16.1 81.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Houston County High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,765 (16.5%) $8,929 (83.4%) $10,708

Data source: Alabama Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Houston County High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 192nd of 437 Middle schoolsRanks 290th of 437 Middle schools
 22.4%
Ranks 285th of 366 High schoolsRanks 244th of 371 High schools
 12.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade Mathematics (Houston County High School)66.211.5
 54.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Houston County)60.728.5
 32.2%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)43.121
 22.1%
8th Grade Mathematics (Houston County High School)57.610.9
 46.8%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Houston County)56.328.5
 27.8%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)44.721.1
 23.6%
End of Course Mathematics (Houston County High School)20.421.4
 1.1%
   End of Course Mathematics (Houston County)37.423.9
 13.5%
   End of Course Mathematics (Alabama)42.523.6
 19%
End of Course Science (Houston County High School)27.822.2
 5.6%
   End of Course Science (Houston County)37.430.6
 6.8%
   End of Course Science (Alabama)42.631.7
 10.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students376322
 14.4%
African American154146
 5.2%
American Indian02
Asian00
Hispanic2527
 8%
Pacific Islander01
White192139
 27.6%
Two or More Races57
 40%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients80.9%81.4%
 0.5%


Schools Near Houston County High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Houston County High School

Students at Houston County High School are 45% African American, 43% White, 8% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Houston County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Webb Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 322 students attended Houston County High School.

Houston County High School ranks in the bottom 21.2% of Alabama high schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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