The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Winterboro High School
Winterboro High School serves grades six through twelve in the rural Talladega County community of Alpine, Alabama. It is a regular public school within the Talladega County school system, and its enrollment is small for a school spanning middle and high school grades. The student body is roughly balanced between Black and white students, with a very small share of Hispanic students and students identifying as two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need.
State testing results from the 2024-25 school year provide a clear picture of academic performance. In English language arts, students in grades six, seven, and eight scored at a level that might be described as roughly half proficient, which is a common statewide benchmark. The numbers were fairly consistent across those three grade levels. In mathematics, however, the proficiency rates were notably low across the same grades, with a very small share of students meeting the state’s proficiency standard. Eighth-grade science results were also low. When combined into an overall proficiency index, the school’s performance falls below the midpoint relative to districts in Talladega County. Because the school serves grades six through twelve, state testing data is only available for grades six, seven, and eight, which are the tested grade levels in Alabama. The school’s high school grades are not captured in this particular assessment data.
The available testing data covers only a single school year, so there is no multi-year trend to examine. A parent may want to ask the school directly about how its high school students perform on state assessments and whether there are patterns over time in the middle grades.
Winterboro High School does not have a reported graduation rate in the data we examined. This is not necessarily an indicator of a problem; graduation rate data may not have been reported for this school in the most recent cycle, or it may not apply in a way that aligns with the standard measure. A parent should confirm directly with the school or the Talladega County district what the most recent graduation rate is and how it has trended.
In terms of the school’s offerings and environment, the data does not include a listing of programs such as Advanced Placement courses, career and technical education pathways, or dual-enrollment opportunities. It also does not include information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or staff qualifications. These are meaningful gaps. A family considering this school would want to ask about the breadth of the curriculum, especially at the high school level, and about student engagement and school climate.
The housing context in the area shows home values that are modest compared to national and state benchmarks, and the local economy reflects conditions typical of a rural, lower-cost region. The community itself is a small, unincorporated place, and the school serves as a neighborhood anchor. The Talladega County district did not have publicly reported recent strategic or operational changes in the sources we reviewed, so there is no news of boundary adjustments, new programs, or facility upgrades to note.
For a family, the takeaway is straightforward. Winterboro High School is a small, economically disadvantaged school in a rural setting where middle-grade math proficiency is a significant challenge. English language arts performance is more typical. The absence of high school testing data and program information means that the most important questions for a prospective parent are about what happens in the upper grades. A visit to the school, a conversation with the principal about course offerings and postsecondary preparation, and a look at what the school offers in career and technical education would be essential next steps. This is a school where the middle-grade data raises clear concerns and where the lack of high school data leaves a family with incomplete information.
See more original research from School Decision →