Summary:
The DeSoto Parish school district in Louisiana serves nine public schools, including elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools, and is ranked 19th out of 116 parishes statewide with a 4-star rating. The district presents a clear performance divide, with the North DeSoto cluster of schools—North DeSoto High School, North DeSoto Middle School 6-8, and North DeSoto Upper Elementary School—consistently outperforming district and state averages. For instance, North DeSoto High School ranks in the 91st percentile statewide with exceptional Algebra I proficiency (91% vs. 65% state), while North DeSoto Middle School boasts 85% math and 87% ELA proficiency rates. In contrast, the Mansfield cluster—Mansfield High School, Mansfield Middle School, and Mansfield Elementary School—struggles significantly, with Mansfield High School ranking in the 33rd percentile and Mansfield Middle School being the district's lowest-ranked school at the 44th percentile.
Key metrics highlight stark contrasts: graduation rates are strong across the district, with Logansport High School leading at 93.0%, while dropout rates are very low, often at 0.0% at schools like Stanley High School. Chronic absenteeism averages 19.4% district-wide, below the state average of 22.5%, but Mansfield High School (27.3%) and North DeSoto High School (24.3%) exceed both. Socioeconomic factors show a divide, with North DeSoto schools having free/reduced lunch rates around 40-41%, while Mansfield schools exceed 82%, such as Mansfield Elementary at 87.45%.
Interesting findings include Logansport High School's strong performance as an alternative school, with a 93% graduation rate and 95% English II proficiency, despite inconsistent lower-grade results. Mansfield Middle School's 5th-grade math proficiency is critically low at 16%, signaling a need for early intervention. However, Mansfield Elementary School's ranking jump from the 47th to the 71st percentile in one year shows improvement is possible. The district's overall performance, with a 4-star rating, masks these internal disparities, making school choice crucial for parents.
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