The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Straughn High School
Straughn High School serves grades nine through twelve in Covington County, a rural district in south-central Alabama. The school sits outside the city limits of Andalusia, a small county seat that functions as a regional hub of business, trade, and light industry. Major employers in the area include Shaw Industries, a carpet manufacturer, and Wayne Farms, a poultry processor, both of which have expanded their facilities in recent years. The local economy also draws on timber and wood products, and the main campus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is located in Andalusia. The town’s population has declined slightly in recent years, but industrial investment continues.
Straughn High School is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and the student body is predominantly white. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which aligns with the economic profile of the broader region. Because the school serves only high school grades, the state testing data available covers eighth-grade results from the ACAP assessment. Those eighth-grade results, which would come from students who are not yet enrolled at Straughn, showed no tested students, so the proficiency rates for all subjects are reported at zero. This is almost certainly a data reporting anomaly rather than a statement about the school’s academic performance. The school’s own multi-year trend data, which rolls up results across all tested students in the high school, tells a different story. For the single year available, overall English language arts proficiency stood at just over half of students, math proficiency was notably lower, and science proficiency landed between the two. That pattern — math as the weaker area compared to reading — is common in many schools across the state.
When placed alongside other districts in Covington County, Straughn’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. The county has three districts total, so that positioning is relative to a small cohort, but it is useful context. A parent or guardian may want to ask the school directly about how it supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks in math, and what interventions or academic supports are available.
The school environment data — such as class sizes, staffing ratios, chronic absenteeism, and discipline — was not available in the records we reviewed. Similarly, no specific program offerings were listed. Families should check with the school to understand what career and technical education courses, Advanced Placement offerings, or dual-enrollment options through the nearby community college are available.
The district brief for Covington County turned up no major recent changes, such as boundary shifts, leadership turnover, or facility plans, that stood out as significantly altering the school experience. The community context in Andalusia offers some civic anchors — parks, a museum, an arts coalition, a regional airport — but limited public transit and a typical small-town, auto-oriented layout. Housing values in the area are below the national median and close to the state median, making the region relatively affordable compared to many parts of the country.
In sum, Straughn High School is a small, rural high school in a stable district. Academic proficiency results are mixed, with reading stronger than math. The school serves a community where manufacturing and timber remain economic anchors, and where the local community college provides a nearby postsecondary option. Families considering Straughn will want to learn more about the specific academic pathways, support programs, and extracurricular offerings that supplement the core curriculum.
See more original research from School Decision →