Summary:
The city of Mansfield, Louisiana, is served by three public schools within the highly-rated DeSoto Parish school district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 84th percentile statewide, encompassing an elementary school (PK-4), a middle school (5-8), and a high school (9-12) with a combined enrollment of about 1,200 students, all facing high levels of economic disadvantage.
Mansfield Elementary School is the standout performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 71st percentile, dramatically improving from the previous year and outperforming state averages in Math (69% proficient), ELA (83%), and Social Studies (65%). In stark contrast, Mansfield Middle School is the most challenged, with a 2-star rating and significantly lower proficiency rates (47% in Math, 69% in ELA), though it shows signs of improvement from a 20th percentile ranking two years prior. Mansfield High School presents a paradox: it boasts a very high graduation rate (94.6%) and a very low dropout rate (0.6%), yet its end-of-course exam scores are generally below district and state averages, with chronic absenteeism at 27.3% being a major concern.
A critical finding is the sharp academic decline between elementary and middle school, exemplified by 5th-grade math proficiency dropping to just 16% compared to 70% in 3rd grade. While all schools have favorable student-teacher ratios (10.6:1 to 11.3:1), the middle school's improvement and the high school's strong graduation metrics offer some positive notes. Overall, the district's strong reputation is unevenly supported, with the elementary school being a major asset while the secondary schools face significant academic challenges that parents should carefully consider.
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