High Schools in City of Bogalusa School District

The City of Bogalusa School District is a small, single-high-school district in Louisiana, serving grades 6 through 12 at Bogalusa High School with a total enrollment of 656 students, where 94% of students face significant economic challenges as indicated by free or reduced lunch eligibility.

Bogalusa High School presents a notable paradox: it boasts a strong graduation rate of 88.5% for the 2024-2025 school year, exceeding the state average of 85.0%, yet its academic proficiency scores are drastically below state benchmarks. For the 2025-2026 school year, only 25% of students are proficient in mathematics (compared to the state average of 62%), 47% in English Language Arts (state: 70%), and just 19% in social studies (state: 55%). The school ranks 288th out of 325 schools in Louisiana (11th percentile) with a 1-star rating, though this is a slight improvement from the previous year's 301st ranking. A major challenge is chronic absenteeism, with 29.1% of students missing significant school—well above the state average of 22.5%—which directly impacts academic performance. The dropout rate of 6.0% is nearly double the state average of 3.1%, though the school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.9:1, allowing for potential individualized attention.

Key takeaways for parents include a positive year-over-year trend in test scores from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, with mathematics proficiency rising from 18% to 25% and English Language Arts from 37% to 47%. However, a concerning pattern emerges in math proficiency as students age: 36% of 6th graders are proficient, but this drops to 17% by 8th grade, creating a significant deficit before high school courses like Algebra I (22% proficient). While the school effectively keeps students on track to graduate, the data suggests many graduates may not meet state academic standards, raising questions about curriculum rigor. Addressing the chronic absenteeism crisis is critical for any improvement strategy, as nearly one in three students missing school is the most likely driver of low test scores.