Summary:
Caldwell Parish High School is the sole high school in the Caldwell Parish district, serving 398 students in grades 9 through 12 in Columbia, Louisiana. As the only high school in the area, it stands out for both its strengths and challenges, offering a clear picture of what parents can expect.
The school excels in keeping students enrolled, boasting a perfect 0.0% dropout rate for the 2023-2024 school year, far better than the state average of 3.1%. It also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.2, which allows for more individualized attention. However, academic performance lags behind state averages across all core subjects, including English I (59% proficient vs. 66% state), Algebra I (48% vs. 65%), and U.S. History (34% vs. 55%). The school’s state ranking has been in the bottom third for three consecutive years, currently at the 24th percentile with a 1-star rating.
The most pressing concern is a chronic absenteeism rate of 34.9% for the 2024-2025 school year, significantly higher than the state average of 22.5%. This likely drives the below-average test scores, as students missing 10% or more of school struggle to keep up. Additionally, proficiency rates declined in five of six subjects year-over-year, suggesting systemic issues. With 63.57% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school receives substantial funding, yet resources have not translated into better outcomes. Parents should focus on how the district plans to address absenteeism and improve academic support to ensure students are prepared for college or careers.
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