High Schools in Franklin Parish

Franklin Parish is home to a single high school, Franklin Parish High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 in Winnsboro, LA, with a total enrollment of 706 students. The school is part of the Franklin Parish school district, which is ranked 97th out of 116 districts in Louisiana, earning a 1-star rating. Over 71% of students are economically disadvantaged, and the school has a student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

The most notable finding is a paradox between graduation and academic proficiency. While Franklin Parish High School boasts a strong graduation rate of 93.8% (well above the state average of 85.0%) and a low dropout rate of 2.4%, its academic performance is significantly below state averages. In the most recent testing year, average proficiency across all subjects was just 35.2%, compared to the state average of about 61.7%. Proficiency in Algebra I was only 23% (state: 65%), and Geometry was 28% (state: 62%). This suggests the school may prioritize credit recovery and social promotion over rigorous academic achievement.

Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, with a rate of 36.5%—14 percentage points higher than the state average of 22.5%. This likely drives the low test scores. Additionally, performance is declining in core subjects, with Algebra I proficiency dropping from 29% to 23% and English II from 53% to 43% over two years. The school's challenges are deeply tied to its high level of economic disadvantage, a well-documented correlating factor with lower academic outcomes. Overall, while the school effectively retains students and guides them to graduation, it struggles to ensure they achieve academic mastery.