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Simpson High School

Q: Is Simpson High School a good school?

Simpson High School ranks 282 nd of 690 Louisiana alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

282^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Alternative Schools

Better than 59% of Louisiana alternative schools

Summary

Simpson High School is a small, rural PK-12 school in Simpson, Louisiana, serving just 252 students and part of the highly-rated Vernon Parish school district, which holds a 4-star rating. Despite a high-needs population where over 67% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the school delivers exceptional academic results, with all-grades proficiency rates of 79% in both English Language Arts and Mathematics—well above state averages of 70% and 60%, respectively. Its end-of-course exam performance is particularly impressive, with U.S. History proficiency at 88% and Biology at 83%, and the school has maintained a perfect 0.0% dropout rate for five consecutive years.

However, Simpson faces a critical challenge: chronic absenteeism has more than doubled in recent years, rising from 14.0% in 2021-2022 to 35.8% in 2024-2025. This rate is now 13.3 percentage points higher than the state average and notably worse than nearby schools like Hicks High School (25.3%) and Oak Hill High School (16.5%). This creates an intriguing paradox: the school achieves top-tier test scores and perfect attendance (zero dropouts) while simultaneously grappling with a severe absenteeism problem, suggesting that its small size and low student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1 allow for highly effective, targeted support for students who attend regularly.

Compared to its peers, Simpson stands out academically. It outperforms Hicks High School in most subjects, especially in Math (79% vs. 69%) and U.S. History (88% vs. 57%), though Hicks has a better absenteeism rate. Against Oak Hill High School, which is larger (715 students) and in the lower-ranked Rapides Parish district, Simpson dramatically excels, with English I proficiency at 92% vs. 79% and Biology at 80% vs. 63%. One area for improvement is Social Studies, where the all-grades proficiency rate of 50% lags behind the district (54%) and state (55%), driven by low scores in 3rd and 8th grades. Overall, Simpson High School is a high-performing rural school that overcomes significant socioeconomic barriers through strong instruction and small class sizes, though addressing its rising absenteeism is key to sustaining its success.

252

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,997

Per pupil spending ?

67.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4262 Highway 8
Simpson, LA 71474

(337) 383-7810

District: Vernon Parish

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.3%

Hispanic:

5.2%

Two or more races:

2.0%

See top rated Louisiana elementary schools

Compare Simpson High School to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 96th percentile in 2025 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Louisiana average (77% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Above the Louisiana median (59th percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (36% vs 22% Louisiana)

!Ranking has slipped from its 96th-percentile peak (2025) to 88th (2026)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school77%

District avg70%

Louisiana avg62%

Elementary school

282^nd of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Top 41%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From top 30% (2016) to top 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

112^th of 452

Louisiana public middle schools ?

Top 25%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

38^th of 325

Louisiana public high schools ?

Top 12%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Alternative Schools in the Vernon Parish

20^th of 116Vernon Parish among Louisiana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	282 of 690	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	85.8	86 of 666	87.1%	★★★★☆
2024	71.9	201 of 675	70.2%	★★★★☆
2023	64.6	279 of 730	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.7	309 of 727	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.1	261 of 729	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.4	220 of 731	69.9%	★★★★☆
2018	76.0	108 of 728	85.2%	★★★★☆
2017	71.1	223 of 739	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	71.6	226 of 742	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	69.5	242 of 792	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	78.3	139 of 777	82.1%	★★★★☆
2013	74.2	177 of 772	77.1%	★★★★☆
2012	73.0	211 of 764	72.4%	★★★★☆
2011	61.7	335 of 766	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	73.1	219 of 736	70.2%	★★★★☆
2009	66.5	267 of 738	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	76.0	167 of 743	77.5%	★★★★☆
2007	74.9	180 of 725	75.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	49.0	371 of 679	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.8	276 of 705	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.7	265 of 701	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.6	198 of 705	71.9%	★★★★☆
2019	55.9	332 of 684	51.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	62.3	266 of 685	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	87.3	57 of 661	91.4%	★★★★★
2024	67.3	220 of 674	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.2	293 of 723	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.3	307 of 724	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.1	276 of 719	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.4	245 of 697	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.8	214 of 682	68.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	71.0	208 of 682	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	87.2	59 of 641	90.8%	★★★★★
2024	68.7	208 of 651	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.4	311 of 713	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.8	233 of 712	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.6	268 of 704	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.8	179 of 696	74.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	42.1	328 of 496	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	71.8	109 of 431	74.7%	★★★★☆
2024	53.3	224 of 434	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.2	328 of 518	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.4	401 of 517	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	48.4	304 of 522	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.7	234 of 517	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.9	142 of 516	72.5%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	76.5	112 of 452	75.2%	★★★★☆
2025	87.0	44 of 447	90.2%	★★★★★
2024	68.6	140 of 449	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	84.1	57 of 465	87.7%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	100 of 460	78.3%	★★★★☆
2021	84.9	57 of 459	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	63.9	172 of 449	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.5	150 of 411	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.5	129 of 437	70.5%	★★★★☆
2016	72.1	115 of 435	73.6%	★★★★☆
2015	62.7	177 of 482	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	70.3	131 of 470	72.1%	★★★★☆
2013	74.8	106 of 457	76.8%	★★★★☆
2012	78.1	78 of 442	82.4%	★★★★☆
2011	83.7	37 of 412	91.0%	★★★★★
2010	81.2	55 of 408	86.5%	★★★★☆
2009	76.7	83 of 425	80.5%	★★★★☆
2008	79.7	66 of 413	84.0%	★★★★☆
2007	76.3	80 of 396	79.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	62.3	165 of 434	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.9	173 of 415	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	92.0	17 of 444	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	77.5	84 of 441	81.0%	★★★★☆
2021	76.9	94 of 441	78.7%	★★★★☆
2019	84.5	47 of 418	88.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	79.2	79 of 450	82.4%	★★★★☆
2025	89.9	24 of 437	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	71.2	112 of 444	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	94.0	17 of 459	96.3%	★★★★★
2022	72.7	99 of 458	78.4%	★★★★☆
2021	84.9	46 of 455	89.9%	★★★★★
2019	57.7	181 of 430	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.2	140 of 403	65.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	84.6	65 of 435	85.1%	★★★★☆
2022	66.8	140 of 442	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.9	149 of 442	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.3	242 of 418	42.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	58.9	148 of 338	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.8	78 of 316	75.3%	★★★★☆
2024	53.0	168 of 320	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	70.3	89 of 352	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	56.9	165 of 362	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.2	100 of 358	72.1%	★★★★☆
2019	49.1	198 of 350	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.3	152 of 338	55.0%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	83.1	38 of 325	88.3%	★★★★☆
2025	89.2	13 of 329	96.0%	★★★★★
2024	77.3	57 of 333	82.9%	★★★★☆
2023	66.6	107 of 321	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.8	123 of 326	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	84.5	27 of 322	91.6%	★★★★★
2019	68.1	92 of 313	70.6%	★★★★☆
2018	74.2	46 of 302	84.8%	★★★★☆
2017	67.0	116 of 297	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	73.9	53 of 297	82.2%	★★★★☆
2015	73.2	50 of 312	84.0%	★★★★☆
2014	76.1	31 of 309	90.0%	★★★★★
2013	52.0	183 of 312	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	77.8	43 of 310	86.1%	★★★★☆
2011	72.7	65 of 300	78.3%	★★★★☆
2010	75.2	48 of 297	83.8%	★★★★☆
2009	67.4	79 of 301	73.8%	★★★★☆
2008	48.2	166 of 291	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	62.5	119 of 290	59.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	89.0	18 of 313	94.2%	★★★★★
2025	84.4	28 of 308	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	84.8	21 of 308	93.2%	★★★★★
2021	83.4	29 of 288	89.9%	★★★★★
2019	69.0	86 of 292	70.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	83.8	29 of 321	91.0%	★★★★★
2025	89.1	17 of 323	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	73.7	50 of 321	84.4%	★★★★☆
2022	65.1	89 of 322	72.4%	★★★★☆
2021	76.8	43 of 285	84.9%	★★★★☆
2019	59.7	108 of 301	64.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2021	87.9	18 of 292	93.8%	★★★★★
2019	50.1	155 of 291	46.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	72.9	59 of 244	75.8%	★★★★☆
2025	80.8	30 of 245	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	61.5	92 of 248	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.5	95 of 249	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.4	164 of 250	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	81.5	21 of 245	91.4%	★★★★★
2019	58.9	99 of 249	60.2%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Male (2026)70th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)61st percentile~ school

Female (2026)45th percentile-14 vs school

White (2026)34th percentile-25 vs school

Middle school

Male (2026)85th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)82nd percentile+7 vs school

Female (2026)62nd percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)56th percentile-19 vs school

High school

Female (2026)94th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2021)94th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)91st percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)76th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

U.S. History88%+33 vs state

Biology83%+23 vs state

English II82%+15 vs state

Algebra I80%+15 vs state

English Language Arts79%+9 vs state

Mathematics78%+16 vs state

Geometry76%+19 vs state

English I73%+7 vs state

Social Studies50%-5 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, April 21, 2012

I attended Simpson High School fro 1970 - 1982. This school has come a long way since then. It has always been one of the best "little" schools in the state. They have made many improvements but it is still small enough that you know who every student is from 1st grade through 12th grade yet it is big enough to attract many college recruits. This is a great school with family values Close Quote

Schools Near Simpson High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				LEAP Mathematics (2026)							LEAP English Language Arts (2026)							LEAP Social Studies (2026)							LEAP Algebra I (2026)	LEAP Geometry (2026)	LEAP English II (2026)	LEAP U.S. History (2026)	LEAP English I (2026)	LEAP Biology (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	LEAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	LEAP Mathematics 4th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 5th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 6th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 7th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 8th Grade	LEAP Mathematics All Grades	LEAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts All Grades	LEAP Social Studies 3rd Grade	LEAP Social Studies 4th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 5th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 6th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 7th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 8th Grade	LEAP Social Studies All Grades	LEAP Algebra I End of Course	LEAP Geometry End of Course	LEAP English II End of Course	LEAP U.S. History End of Course	LEAP English I End of Course	LEAP Biology End of Course	Total
Simpson High School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	4262 Highway 8	Simpson	71474	Vernon Parish	Vernon Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 383-7810	252	21	12.2	67.5%	230 (91.3%)	4 (1.6%)	13 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)								(n/a)	78.0	69.0	67.0	86.0	91.0	77.0		56.0	73.0	86.0	95.0	88.0	78.0	79.0	28.0	51.0	53.0	52.0	67.0	45.0	50.0	80.0	76.0	82.0	88.0	73.0	83.0	$17,997
Hicks High School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1296 Hicks School Road	Leesville	71446	Vernon Parish	Vernon Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 239-9645	336	27	12.5	62.2%	317 (94.3%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)								(n/a)	66.0	74.0	59.0	70.0	87.0			72.0	84.0	73.0		94.0	76.0	78.0	39.0	53.0	51.0		82.0	87.0	55.0	92.0		71.0	57.0	84.0	83.0	$16,039
Oak Hill High School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	7362 Highway 112	Elmer	71424	Rapides Parish	Rapides Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 793-2014	715	56	12.7	65.6%	648 (90.6%)	7 (1.0%)	33 (4.6%)	3 (0.4%)	8 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.2%)								(n/a)	73.0	78.0	63.0	72.0		70.0	74.0	74.0	69.0		68.0	92.0	81.0	76.0	56.0	65.0	52.0	38.0	68.0	84.0	62.0	92.0	68.0	73.0	58.0	81.0	58.0	$15,458

Frequently Asked Questions about Simpson High School

What is the racial makeup of Simpson High School?

Students at Simpson High School are 91% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% African American.

How many students attend Simpson High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 252 students attended Simpson High School.

What district is Simpson High School in?

Vernon Parish

Is Simpson High School a good school?

Simpson High School ranks 282^nd of 690 Louisiana alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Simpson High School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Louisiana Dept of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.