The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Booker T Washington High
Booker T Washington High serves students in grades nine through twelve in Tuskegee, the county seat of predominantly rural Macon County. Tuskegee itself is a small city whose identity is shaped by two major institutions: Tuskegee University and the Tuskegee Veterans Administration Medical Center. The surrounding county is agricultural, and the city’s population has been declining modestly in recent years. Median household income in the community is low relative to state and national benchmarks, and a substantial share of households live below the poverty line. Housing values here are well below the state median, making homeownership more attainable than in many Alabama communities. Interstate 85 is accessible nearby, and U.S. Routes 29 and 80 pass through the city.
The student body of Booker T Washington High is small for a traditional four-year high school, and the school reports that all of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is overwhelmingly Black, with small shares of Hispanic students and students who identify as two or more races. No data was available on the share of students receiving special education services or English learner supports.
State testing data was provided, but it covers only grades seven and eight, which are not served by this high school. That appears to be a data mismatch, and the school’s own high school performance on state assessments was not included. The single-year proficiency figures reported for those middle grades were low across math, English language arts, and science, but because those results do not correspond to the grade levels the school actually serves, they offer no basis for drawing conclusions about the performance of high school students. A parent looking for a clear picture of student achievement at this school would need to ask the administration directly for high school assessment results, graduation rates, and any college-readiness indicators such as ACT scores or dual-enrollment participation.
The high school is a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet. No information was available about course offerings, including advanced placement, career and technical education, or concurrent enrollment programs. The district brief for Macon County yielded little detail on recent changes or initiatives, so it is not possible to speak to any current improvement efforts or strategic priorities from that angle.
The comparison set for this school is the set of all districts in Macon County, but because there is only one district in the county, no meaningful comparison could be drawn. The graduation rate for the school was not reported in the data. Chronic absenteeism data was also absent.
For families considering this school, the community context matters a great deal. Tuskegee is a place with deep historical significance and enduring institutional anchors, but it faces economic headwinds and a slowly shrinking population. The school serves a student population that is almost entirely low-income, which often correlates with additional needs for wraparound support. Without data on staffing ratios, discipline, or attendance, a parent’s best next step would be to visit the school, speak with the principal or guidance counselor, and ask about academic programming, support services, and recent graduate outcomes. The available evidence leaves many of the questions that typically inform a school choice unanswered.
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