High Schools in Ascension Parish

The five public high schools in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, serve grades 9 through 12 and range in size from 396 students at Donaldsonville High School to 2,029 students at Dutchtown High School, with the district ranking in the 92nd percentile statewide for overall performance.

Three schools stand out as top performers. Dutchtown High School is the consistent high-achiever, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 94th-96th percentile over three years, with the highest average test scores (87.2% proficient) and a 93.9% graduation rate. St. Amant High School is a strong contender, boasting the parish's highest graduation rate (94.9%) and lowest dropout rate (1.2%), with test scores nearly matching Dutchtown's, especially in Algebra I (92% proficient). Prairieville High School is a rising star, achieving a 5-star rating and 93rd percentile rank in its first year, with strong test scores (81.3% average) and a low dropout rate (1.2%). In contrast, Donaldsonville High School faces significant challenges, with the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (91.16% free/reduced lunch), the lowest test scores (50.5% average), and the highest chronic absenteeism (25.0%). East Ascension High School falls in the middle, with a 68th percentile rank and a graduation rate of 88.8%.

A key takeaway is the stark achievement gap tied to socioeconomic factors: Donaldsonville High School has a 36.7 percentage point lower average test score than Dutchtown High School, despite having the smallest class sizes (10.8:1 student-teacher ratio). Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, with the lowest-performing schools also having the highest rates. While the district overall excels, the internal variance shows a tale of two tiers, where targeted support is needed for Donaldsonville and East Ascension to close the gap with the top three schools.