Summary:
The five public schools in Minden, Louisiana, part of the Webster Parish school district, serve students from Pre-K through 12th grade and face significant challenges, including high rates of economic disadvantage and chronic absenteeism that exceed state averages across all schools.
Among the elementary schools, E. S. Richardson Elementary School (grades 4-5) stands out as the strongest academic performer, achieving the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts (50%) and Mathematics (41%) despite having the highest rate of economic disadvantage (84% free/reduced lunch). In contrast, J. L. Jones Elementary School (grades 2-3) is the lowest-performing school in the city, with a 0-star rating and the lowest proficiency rates (36% in Math, 41% in ELA), along with the highest student-to-teacher ratio (17.9). J. A. Phillips Elementary School (Pre-K-1) has no test score data, making it impossible to assess early foundational skills, though its chronic absenteeism rate (33.6%) is a concern. Webster Junior High School shows moderate performance, with ELA as its strongest subject (53% proficient). Minden High School (grades 9-12) is a standout for its positive trajectory, showing an upward trend in state ranking and exceeding state averages with an 87.4% graduation rate and a 2.7% dropout rate, though its 45.9% chronic absenteeism rate is alarmingly high.
A key takeaway is the "resilience" of E. S. Richardson Elementary, which outperforms J. L. Jones despite similar poverty levels, suggesting that factors like school leadership and curriculum make a significant difference. However, a troubling pattern emerges where academic proficiency declines from elementary to high school, with Minden High's End-of-Course exams in subjects like Geometry (38%) and U.S. History (33%) falling below earlier grade levels. Addressing the district-wide chronic absenteeism crisis, which affects every school, could be the most impactful change for improving student outcomes across Minden.
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