Middle Schools in Ouachita Parish

The nine middle schools in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, serve grades 6-8 and present a wide range of academic performance, from top-tier state leaders to schools facing significant challenges.

West Ridge Middle School is the clear academic leader, consistently ranking in the top 10% of Louisiana middle schools with a 5-star rating and dramatically higher test scores than the district average. Sterlington Middle School is another consistent high-achiever with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district. In contrast, Richwood Junior High School stands out as a resilience story: despite having the highest rate of economic disadvantage, it shows a remarkable upward trend in its state ranking and has the second-lowest chronic absenteeism rate. Riser Middle School presents a paradox, struggling overall but achieving 100% proficiency in Algebra I for two consecutive years. Good Hope Middle School is a notable outlier, ranking third in the district yet having the worst chronic absenteeism rate at 30.2%.

Key metrics show a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and performance, though not absolute. The district average for math proficiency is 64%, with West Ridge (87%) and Sterlington (83%) leading, while Riser (43%) and Ouachita Junior High School (46%) lag behind. Chronic absenteeism ranges from Sterlington's low of 11.1% to Good Hope's high of 30.2%. Calhoun Middle School shows a concerning downward trend in its state ranking, dropping from the 73rd to the 61st percentile over three years. The middle-tier schools—Woodlawn Middle School, Calhoun, and East Ouachita Middle School—perform at or near the district average, representing a key opportunity for improvement. Overall, parents will find a mix of excellent options like West Ridge and Sterlington, alongside schools like Richwood that are making impressive gains despite obstacles.