Summary:
Varnado, Louisiana, is served by a single public school, Varnado High School, which educates 256 students in grades 6 through 12 in a small, rural community where 82% of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Varnado High School presents a mixed picture of performance. On the positive side, the school boasts a strong graduation rate of 90.5%, which is higher than both the Washington Parish district (83.2%) and the state of Louisiana (85.0%). The school also excels in specific subjects, with 76% of students proficient in Algebra I—11 points above the state average—and a solid 71% proficiency in English I. However, overall academic proficiency is a concern. Only 36% of students are proficient in mathematics and 42% in social studies, both well below state averages. The school's state ranking places it in the 40th percentile, earning a 2-star rating.
A key challenge is chronic absenteeism, which affects 26.9% of students, a rate higher than both the district and state averages. This likely contributes to the low overall test scores. The school also shows significant year-to-year volatility in performance, such as Algebra I proficiency jumping from 35% to 76% in one year, likely due to its small student body. While the school succeeds in graduating students, the low proficiency rates in core subjects raise questions about college and career readiness. The standout success in Algebra I and relative strength in English Language Arts provide a foundation, but addressing absenteeism and improving overall academic achievement remain critical priorities for Varnado High School.
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