High Schools in Calcasieu Parish

The analysis covers nine high schools in the Calcasieu Parish school district in Louisiana, serving grades 9-12 across a diverse range of communities from Sulphur to Vinton.

Sam Houston High School stands out as the top academic performer, ranking 39th in the state with the highest test scores in subjects like Algebra I (85% proficient) and English II (86% proficient), and it has the lowest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (34.27%). In contrast, LaGrange High School faces significant challenges, ranking 301st in the state with the lowest graduation rate (79.5%) and a critical chronic absenteeism rate of 52.1%. DeQuincy High School has experienced a notable decline, dropping 97 places in state rank over two years, while Vinton High School shows consistency with a 3-star rating and the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate (20.7%). The district's graduation rate (93.2%) and dropout rate (2.2%) both outperform state averages, but a clear divide exists between schools like Alfred M. Barbe High School (67th in state) and Washington/Marion Magnet High School (277th in state).

Key metrics reveal that student-teacher ratios vary widely, from 9.2:1 at Vinton to 16.9:1 at Barbe, yet this does not directly correlate with performance, as Barbe remains a high achiever. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue for struggling schools, with LaGrange and Washington/Marion both exceeding 37%. Notably, Westlake High School and Vinton excel in Geometry, scoring 80% and 85% proficiency respectively, well above the district average of 68%. The data underscores that economic factors are a strong predictor of outcomes, with top schools having lower poverty rates and bottom schools facing higher rates, but it also highlights that targeted interventions in attendance and specific subjects can make a difference.