Summary:
This analysis focuses on a single high school, Eleanor McMain Secondary School, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, serving grades 9 through 12 with an enrollment of 690 students.
Eleanor McMain Secondary School is a school on an upward trajectory, showing clear academic improvement over the past few years. Its state ranking has risen from the 41st percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 53rd percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026, a significant 12-percentile-point jump. The school boasts a strong graduation rate of 91.9%, notably higher than the state average of 85.0%, and outperforms the state in four out of six core subjects, including Algebra I, English I, English II, and Biology. However, the school faces a critical challenge with chronic absenteeism, which stands at a staggering 45.5%—more than double the state average of 22.5%. This creates a paradox where the students who attend regularly perform well, but a large portion of the student body is disengaged. Additionally, the school serves a predominantly low-income community, with 83.33% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet it is still demonstrating positive academic results.
Key takeaways for parents include the school's strong academic foundation and upward trend, particularly in math and English, but also the significant hurdle of chronic absenteeism. The school's performance is inconsistent across subjects, with U.S. History being a notable weak spot (51% proficiency vs. 55% state average). There is also volatility in math scores, with Algebra I proficiency dropping from 67% to 51% and Geometry jumping from 57% to 71% between recent years. Overall, Eleanor McMain Secondary School shows high potential and is improving, but addressing the absenteeism crisis is essential for unlocking further gains and ensuring all students benefit from the school's academic strengths.
Thank you for your feedback!