Best Public Schools in Monroe, LA

The city of Monroe, Louisiana is home to 34 schools across two school districts - the Ouachita Parish School District and the City of Monroe School District. The schools serve students from elementary through high school, with 20 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 6 high schools, and 2 alternative schools.

Several standout schools emerge from the data, including Sallie Humble Elementary School, which is ranked among the top 15% of Louisiana elementary schools with a 4-star rating, and J.S. Clark Magnet Elementary School, which is ranked among the top 2% of Louisiana elementary schools with a 5-star rating. At the high school level, Sterlington High School is ranked among the top 10% of Louisiana high schools with a 5-star rating, while Neville High School is ranked among the top 40% with a 3-star rating.

However, the data also reveals stark disparities between the Ouachita Parish and City of Monroe school districts, with the Ouachita Parish schools generally outperforming the City of Monroe schools across metrics like test scores, graduation rates, and school rankings. Many of the schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, such as Carroll High, Carver Elementary, and Sherrouse School, struggle with very low test scores and other poor outcomes, highlighting the significant challenges that high-poverty schools face. Despite these challenges, the exceptional performance of schools like Sallie Humble Elementary and J.S. Clark Magnet Elementary demonstrates that progress is possible with the right resources and strategies.