`systemctl` does have a mode suitable for scripting; use `show` rather than `status`, and add the `-p` / `--properties` and `--value` options to get only the output you want.

Here's an example (from an Ubuntu 17.04 system):

 $ systemctl show -p SubState --value NetworkManager
 running
Running (or otherwise) is a `SubState`. If you want to know whether a service is active, use the property `ActiveState`

 $ systemctl show -p ActiveState --value x11-common
 inactive
 $ systemctl show -p SubState --value x11-common
 dead

Notes from the `man`:

 show [PATTERN...|JOB...]
 Show properties of one or more units, jobs, or the manager
 itself. If no argument is specified, properties of the
 manager will be shown. If a unit name is specified, properties
 of the unit are shown, and if a job ID is specified,
 properties of the job are shown. By default, empty properties
 are suppressed. Use --all to show those too. To select specific
 properties to show, use --property=. This command is intended
 to be used whenever computer-parsable output is required. Use
 status if you are looking for formatted human-readable output.
 
 -p, --property=
 When showing unit/job/manager properties with the show command,
 limit display to properties specified in the argument. The
 argument should be a comma-separated list of property names,
 such as "MainPID". Unless specified, all known properties are
 shown. If specified more than once, all properties with the
 specified names are shown. Shell completion is implemented for
 property names.
 
 --value
 When printing properties with show, only print the value, and
 skip the property name and "=".