Summary:
The two middle schools in the West Baton Rouge Parish school district, serving grades 6-8, present a clear tale of two very different academic experiences for families in the area.
Brusly Middle School is the standout performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 20% of Louisiana middle schools. It boasts high proficiency rates in math (77%), English (80%), and social studies (78%), all well above state averages. The school also has a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 8.9% and a 0% dropout rate. In contrast, Port Allen Middle School holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 39th percentile, with lower overall proficiency rates. However, Port Allen shows a unique strength: its students taking advanced high school courses achieve exceptional results, with 94% proficient in English I and 87% in Algebra I, dramatically exceeding state averages. This suggests the school has a highly effective program for its advanced learners, even as its general student body faces significant challenges, as nearly all students (96.57%) come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The district's strong 4-star rating is largely driven by Brusly's excellent performance, masking the significant gap between the two schools. While Port Allen benefits from a lower student-teacher ratio (9.4:1) compared to Brusly (13.3:1), its overall academic outcomes are lower, indicating that socioeconomic factors play a major role. Both schools show a common trend of declining math proficiency from 6th to 8th grade, a challenge for parents to be aware of. Ultimately, families in West Baton Rouge Parish have a clear choice between a consistently high-performing school in Brusly and a school in Port Allen that, despite overall struggles, offers standout advanced coursework opportunities.
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