Summary:
The Vernon Parish school district in Louisiana serves 16 public schools, including elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools, and is ranked in the 83rd percentile statewide with a 4-star rating. The standout academic performer is Anacoco High School, which ranks in the 96th percentile (5 stars) and boasts exceptional test scores—88% proficient in Math and 91% in ELA—along with a 0% dropout rate. Its feeder, Anacoco Elementary School, is also a top performer with 81% Math and 86% ELA proficiency, achieving these results despite a 61.93% free/reduced lunch rate. In contrast, West Leesville Elementary School faces the greatest challenges, ranking in the 23rd percentile (1 star) with critically low scores (54% Math, 55% ELA) and the highest chronic absenteeism among elementary schools at 40.6%.
Key metrics reveal that the district outperforms the state in Math (68% vs. 62%) and ELA (78% vs. 70%) but slightly lags in Social Studies (54% vs. 55%). Chronic absenteeism is a pervasive issue, with a district-wide rate of 31.5%—well above the state average of 22.5%—and every school except Anacoco Elementary (19.4%) exceeds that state figure. The highest absenteeism rates are at Hornbeck High School (49.4%) and Pickering High School (43.3%), signaling a systemic engagement problem at the secondary level. The "middle school slump" is evident, as Leesville Junior High School and Vernon Middle School have Math proficiency rates (54% and 58%) well below the district average of 68%.
Interesting takeaways include the "Anacoco anomaly," where high poverty (over 60% free/reduced lunch) does not hinder top-tier academic results, suggesting effective teaching and leadership. Social Studies is a district-wide weakness, with schools like West Leesville Elementary (38%) and Pickering High School (41%) scoring critically low. Alternative schools show mixed results; for instance, Hicks High School excels in Algebra I (92%) and Biology (83%), while Pitkin High School struggles in U.S. History (40%), highlighting the diverse needs of these programs.
Thank you for your feedback!