Richland Parish

The Richland Parish school district in Louisiana serves approximately 2,694 students across 11 public schools, including five elementary, three middle, and three high schools, and is ranked 83rd out of 116 parishes with a 2-star rating. The district is characterized by high economic disadvantage, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 78.2%, and reveals a stark divide between a few high-performing schools and several that face significant academic challenges.

The standout performers are the schools in the Mangham cluster. Mangham Elementary School is the district's star, ranking in the 78th percentile statewide (4 stars) with proficiency rates of 72% in Math, 85% in ELA, and 70% in Social Studies. Mangham Junior High School also excels, ranking in the 63rd percentile (3 stars) and exceeding district and state averages in all core subjects. Mangham High School boasts a stellar 94.3% graduation rate, far above the district average of 84.7%. In contrast, schools in Delhi and Rayville struggle profoundly. Delhi Elementary School ranks in the 5th percentile (0 stars) with a 12% Social Studies proficiency rate, while Rayville Junior High School ranks in the 2nd percentile (0 stars) with the lowest Math (20%) and Social Studies (19%) rates in the district. Delhi High School has a 74.4% graduation rate and a 6.4% dropout rate, the highest in the parish.

Key metrics show the district's overall proficiency rates (Math: 51%, ELA: 61%, Social Studies: 42%) are below state averages. Chronic absenteeism averages 21.2%, slightly better than the state's 22.5%. A notable outlier is Holly Ridge Elementary School, which, despite a 75% free/reduced lunch rate, is a solid 3-star school ranking in the 53rd percentile, outperforming the district in all subjects. This suggests that effective strategies can mitigate the impact of poverty. The "middle school slump" is severe in Rayville and Delhi, with Delhi Middle School and Rayville Junior High ranking in the 1st and 2nd percentiles, respectively, while Mangham Junior High thrives. The district's overall 2-star rating masks the success of the Mangham schools and Holly Ridge, highlighting a significant equity challenge where resources must be concentrated on the most struggling schools to lift the entire parish's performance.