The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Macedonia School
Macedonia School is a small, regular public school in rural Jackson County, Alabama, serving students from prekindergarten through eighth grade. The school sits in Section, a low-density town atop Sand Mountain that has seen stable to slightly declining population over recent decades. Because Macedonia School does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report; the school’s academic profile is captured entirely through state assessments in math, English language arts, and science for tested grades.
On the 2024-25 Alabama ACAP assessments, the school’s results show a split pattern. In math, proficiency rates are low across the grades with reported results: third grade, fifth grade, seventh grade, and eighth grade all fall well below what many families would consider a comfortable level. Fourth and sixth grade math results were suppressed, which typically happens when a group is too small to report, a reality of the school’s modest enrollment. In English language arts, the picture is more varied. Fifth grade turned in a very strong performance, and seventh grade also showed solid proficiency. Third grade and eighth grade posted more moderate figures, while fourth and sixth grade ELA results were again suppressed due to small group sizes. Science was tested only in eighth grade, where proficiency landed at a moderate level. When viewed across all tested subjects and grades, Macedonia School’s overall proficiency index places in the bottom quartile relative to the two school districts in Jackson County. That is a straightforward signal that academic attainment here, particularly in math, is an area a parent would want to investigate further with the school.
The student body is small, with enrollment spread thinly across grades from PK through eighth grade. A majority of students are white, and a sizable share are American Indian or Alaska Native; other racial and ethnic groups are present in very small numbers. Just over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a substantial concentration of lower-income households. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and no Title I status was reported in the data available.
Section itself offers a car-dependent, small-town environment. State highways 35 and 71 pass through, and commercial activity is limited to a cluster along Main Street. Manufacturing has historically been a large part of the local workforce, followed by educational services, health care, and retail. The town’s main civic gathering is an annual Labor Day Celebration. Housing values in the area are modest, below both state and national benchmarks, and have shown a slight year-over-year dip. For families, the housing market is relatively affordable, but the rural location means commuting to larger employment centers is likely necessary.
A major contextual factor for any family considering Macedonia School is the ongoing district-wide consolidation effort in Jackson County Schools. Multiple small community schools have closed, and attendance zones have been redrawn. These changes alter school options, commute times, and class sizes permanently. While Macedonia School itself remains open, the district’s restructuring means that the feeder pattern for students after eighth grade may shift; currently, Section High School serves grades nine through twelve as part of the same county system, but families should verify the current attendance boundary.
Overall, Macedonia School offers a small, rural setting with a tight-knit community feel. Its academic performance is uneven, with ELA showing some strong individual grade-level results but math consistently low. The combination of small class sizes and a supportive staff could be appealing for families who value a close environment, but the attainment levels in core subjects, especially math, merit direct conversation with the school about instruction, intervention, and how the school prepares students for the transition to high school.
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