Best Public Schools in Benton, LA

The five public schools in Benton, Louisiana, part of the Bossier Parish district, serve approximately 4,449 students from kindergarten through 12th grade and are anchored by a standout academic performer and a high school that excels despite challenges.

Kingston Elementary School is the district's academic powerhouse, consistently earning a 5-star rating with an average proficiency of 87% across core subjects, the highest in the area, and a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.5%. In contrast, Benton Elementary School serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (45.55% free/reduced lunch) but shows a dramatic "4th Grade Leap," where proficiency jumps from 71% to 89% in math and 79% to 91% in ELA, indicating highly effective upper-grade instruction. Benton Intermediate School follows closely behind Kingston with an average proficiency of 85.7%, while Benton Middle School posts a solid 79.7% average but struggles with a 30.7% chronic absenteeism rate, the highest in the city.

Benton High School stands out as a model of efficiency, achieving a 93.9% graduation rate and a 0.9% dropout rate—both far better than state averages—despite having the largest student-teacher ratio (18.6:1) and a 27.3% chronic absenteeism rate. Its End-of-Course exam scores are consistently 10-20 points above the state average. A key takeaway is the troubling "dip" in middle school: chronic absenteeism spikes from 13.5% at Kingston Elementary to 30.7% at Benton Middle School, coinciding with a slight decline in academic proficiency, suggesting that engagement and attendance are critical challenges to address during these transitional years.