Summary:
The five public schools in Coushatta, Louisiana, part of the Red River Parish district, serve approximately 1,243 students from elementary through high school in a community facing significant economic challenges, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 92.5%.
Red River Elementary School is the district's standout performer, earning a 3-star rating and exceeding state averages in math proficiency (65% in 2025-2026). However, this success does not carry forward; Red River Junior High School sees math proficiency drop to 49%, and Red River High School posts a 49% proficiency in Algebra I. The high school also struggles with a 26.7% chronic absenteeism rate, the highest in the district and above the state average. In contrast, Red River Academic Academy faces the most extreme challenges, with a 100% free/reduced lunch rate and the lowest proficiency scores (37% math, 41% ELA in 2024-2025). Ware Youth Center, an alternative school, has a 0% chronic absenteeism rate due to its structured residential program, though it reports a high dropout rate of 19.2%.
Key takeaways for parents: The district's overall ranking is 85th out of 116 parishes (27th percentile), earning a 1-star rating. While poverty is a major factor, it does not fully explain performance—Red River Elementary thrives despite a 90.49% free/reduced lunch rate, while Red River High underperforms with a lower rate of 85.39%. The student-teacher ratio is favorable at 10.3:1 district-wide, with Red River Junior High offering the lowest ratio at 8.4:1. This data suggests that while the elementary school provides a strong foundation, families should be aware of the academic decline and attendance issues that emerge in secondary schools.
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