Marengo High School, Dixons Mills AL

Original Research by School Decision on Marengo High School

Marengo High School serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in Dixons Mills, a small, rural unincorporated community in Marengo County, Alabama. The school is a regular public school and the only school in the community, situated along U.S. Route 43 in an area that retains its agricultural character. There is no incorporated town center or traditional downtown; civic life revolves around the post office, a church, and the school itself. The surrounding region is sparsely populated, and daily life is car-dependent.

Academically, the school’s state testing results from the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program for the 2024-25 school year show a pattern of low proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In math, proficiency rates for grades three through eight ranged from zero in grades seven and eight to just over a third in grade three, with an overall proficiency rate well below half. English language arts performed somewhat better, with rates reaching about half in grades four and six but dropping to under a fifth in grade eight. Science results for grades four and eight were similarly low. Because this is the first year of the assessment available in the data, there is no trend to compare against; a parent may want to ask school staff how these results compare to prior years under previous assessments or other measures of student progress.

The school’s overall proficiency index, a composite across all tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Marengo County. The comparison set includes only three districts in the county, so the range is narrow, but the position is clear. A graduation rate was not available in the data, so we cannot report on high school completion rates; the absence may reflect the way data is reported for this school. Parents interested in high school outcomes should inquire directly with the school about graduation rates and postsecondary pathways.

The student body is small and almost entirely Black, with a very small number of white and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a high-poverty context. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so it is unclear how the school serves these populations. Class sizes across grades are modest, with most grades having a dozen to two dozen students.

The school’s program offerings were not detailed in the available data. There is no mention of Advanced Placement courses, career and technical education pathways, or dual credit options, so families should contact the school to learn about the breadth of academic and elective choices, particularly for high school students. The school is part of the Marengo County district, and no recent district-level changes or initiatives were reported in the public record, suggesting a relatively stable environment.

The community context is one of limited resources. Dixons Mills is unincorporated and has not appeared on the U.S. Census as a distinct community since the late 19th century. The broader ZIP code area’s population is small, and there is no evidence of recent housing development or economic growth. For families seeking a school in a rural, low-density setting where the school is a central community institution, Marengo High School fits that description. For those concerned about academic achievement levels, peer preparation, and the availability of advanced or specialized programs, the school’s low test scores and sparse program data suggest that careful inquiry with the school and a visit are warranted before making a decision.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

>=50%Cohort of 11 students · Class of 2021

The federal source publishes a banded range instead of an exact rate when the graduating cohort is small enough that an exact number could risk identifying individual students.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

373 schools plotted. 7 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 344%

School 44% · District 51% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 36% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median

Grade 515%

School 15% · District 47% · ▼ 31 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median

Grade 618%

School 18% · District 45% · ▼ 27 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median

Grade 70%

School 0% · District 10% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median

Grade 80%

School 0% · District 6% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median

English language arts

Grade 335%

School 35% · District 68% · ▼ 33 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median

Grade 450%

School 50% · District 55% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 72% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median

Grade 655%

School 55% · District 56% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median

Grade 739%

School 39% · District 46% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median

Grade 818%

School 18% · District 35% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 34 pts below state median

Science

Grade 417%

School 17% · District 29% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median

Grade 818%

School 18% · District 31% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median

This schoolMarengo County, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.