High Schools in Washington Parish

The three high schools in Washington Parish, Louisiana—Pine School, Franklinton High School, and Varnado High School—serve a combined 1,643 students across grades 6-12, with the district earning a 2-star rating and ranking 64th out of 116 parishes in Louisiana.

Pine School is the clear academic standout, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide. It leads in LEAP proficiency across all core subjects, including 63% in Math and 77% in ELA, and achieves exceptional End-of-Course exam results like 91% proficiency in Algebra I. However, it has the lowest graduation rate in the district at 81.3%, below the state average of 85%. In contrast, Varnado High School has the highest graduation rate at 90.5% despite serving the most economically disadvantaged student body (82% free/reduced lunch) and posting the lowest test scores, such as 36% in Math and 59% in ELA. Franklinton High School falls in the middle, with a 2-star rating, 83.8% graduation rate, and mixed EOC results—strong in Algebra I (68%) but weak in Geometry (36%).

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide challenge, with all three schools exceeding the state average of 22.5%; Franklinton High has the highest rate at 28.6%, while Pine School is closest to the average at 21.7%. Varnado High benefits from the most favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.5:1, which may support its high graduation rate. Notably, Pine School’s 6-12 structure provides a strong foundation in middle grades, while Varnado High shows resilience by graduating students despite academic challenges. All three schools share an identical dropout rate of 3.1%, matching the state average.