Summary:
The five middle schools in the St. Mary Parish school district serve grades 6-8 (with Patterson Junior High School also including 5th grade) and present a wide range of academic performance, from standout success to significant challenges.
Berwick Junior High School is the clear academic leader, holding the highest state ranking (67th percentile) and the only school to have earned a 4-star rating. It boasts the highest test scores in Math (74%), English Language Arts (80%), and Social Studies (56%), while also having the lowest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (59.38%). In contrast, Franklin Junior High School is the most challenged, with the lowest state ranking (12th percentile), a steep three-year decline, and the only non-zero dropout rate (2.9%). Its test scores are dramatically below district averages, especially in ELA (36%) and Social Studies (23%), and it has the highest economic need (93.37% free/reduced lunch). B. Edward Boudreaux Middle School presents a paradox: despite the highest chronic absenteeism rate (27.3%) and very high poverty (90% free/reduced lunch), it achieves above-average Math (66%) and ELA (72%) scores, suggesting effective instruction can overcome obstacles. Patterson Junior High School (54th percentile) and Morgan City Junior High School (25th percentile) round out the district, with Patterson performing near the district average and Morgan City lagging behind.
A standout finding is that every school offering the Algebra I End-of-Course exam achieved a 100% proficiency rate, highlighting a potential area for expanding advanced coursework. The district itself ranks in the middle of Louisiana (55th percentile), but the polarized performance of its schools—from Berwick's strength to Franklin's decline—means targeted support, rather than uniform efforts, may be most effective for improvement.
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