The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in Science. The lowest is 40% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Andalusia Junior High
Andalusia Junior High serves seventh and eighth graders in a small, separate campus in the county-seat town of Andalusia, Alabama. The school is a regular public school within the Andalusia City district, which also operates an elementary school and a high school. For a family considering this school, the picture that emerges from the available data is one of clear academic strengths in English and science, a notable soft spot in math, a high-poverty student body, and a community that is stable but not growing.
Academically, the school’s performance is uneven but has a bright side. On the state’s ACAP assessments, reading and language arts proficiency sits at a level that suggests a solid majority of students are meeting the standard. Science results for eighth graders are also strong. Both of these areas are a clear strength for the school. Math is the weaker subject: fewer than half of students in both grade levels scored proficient. A parent may want to ask the school directly about math instruction, intervention programs, and how the school supports students who arrive behind in that subject. Overall, when combining all tested subjects and grades, the school’s proficiency index places it above the midpoint among districts in Covington County. That comparison set is small, with just three districts, but within that local frame the school holds a respectable position.
The student body is about 250 young adolescents, with a clear majority who are white and a substantial Black population. Hispanic students and students of two or more races make up smaller shares. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school serves a community with significant economic need. Data on special education and English learner enrollment were not reported in the available profile, so a parent wanting to know the level of support for those populations should follow up directly with the school. There is no graduation rate because the school does not serve high school grades, so that measure does not apply.
Andalusia itself is the largest town in Covington County and functions as a regional trade hub, with manufacturing anchors like Shaw Industries and Wayne Farms providing local employment. The town’s population has been declining slightly in recent years, and the housing market reflects modest home values relative to state and national benchmarks. The district brief turned up no recent, lasting changes such as bond measures, curriculum overhauls, or boundary adjustments that would be relevant to a parent. This means the district has been operating in a generally steady state, for better or worse.
The school’s campus is separate from the elementary and high school, a typical arrangement for a junior high. The town’s downtown is a traditional courthouse square with some civic and cultural anchors, but the schools are located on their own grounds outside that core. Walkability around the school is likely limited, consistent with a small Southern town where driving is the norm. The presence of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in town offers some local postsecondary connection, though it is not part of the K-12 system.
For a family weighing this school, the decision may hinge on math support. A student who is strong in reading and science will likely find a good fit here, with enough peers meeting those standards to maintain a solid academic environment. A student who struggles in math will need attention, and the school should be asked directly about how it addresses that gap. The high proportion of students from low-income households means the school likely has federal Title I resources and support programs, but the exact Title I status was not provided in the data, so a parent should confirm that. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, so there is no special admissions process. It serves a defined attendance zone within Andalusia.
In short, Andalusia Junior High offers a mixed academic picture with genuine strengths, a notable math weakness, and a student body shaped by economic disadvantage. It operates in a small, stable district with no major shifts on the horizon. A parent should visit, talk to the math department, and see how the school’s day-to-day environment matches their child’s needs.
See more original research from School Decision →