Summary:
The Community School for Apprenticeship Learning Inc. charter district in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, operates a single high school, Madison Preparatory Academy, which serves grades 9 through 12 with 621 students and a high poverty rate of nearly 80% free/reduced lunch eligibility.
Madison Preparatory Academy stands out as a "high poverty, high performance" school, defying expectations with a graduation rate of 94.9%—nearly 10 points above the state average—and an exceptionally low dropout rate of just 0.6%, compared to the state's 3.1%. Academically, the school is a powerhouse in English and math, consistently outperforming Louisiana averages on End-of-Course exams; for example, in 2024-2025, 80% of students passed English I (state: 69%) and 71% passed Geometry (state: 57%). However, U.S. History is a clear weakness, with proficiency rates (47% in 2024-2025) falling below the state average (54%). The school also maintains a solid 3-star rating, though its statewide percentile rank has slipped from the 65th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 54th percentile in 2025-2026, suggesting growth is not keeping pace with other schools.
Key metrics to watch include chronic absenteeism at 17.5%, which is better than the state average of 22.5% but higher than the district's 14.3%—a potential risk factor given the school's high poverty context. Overall, Madison Preparatory Academy offers strong academic outcomes in core subjects and impressive student retention, but families should note the persistent challenge in U.S. History and the slight downward trend in state rankings as areas for continued attention.
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