Avoyelles Public Charter School

Avoyelles Public Charter School in Mansura, LA, is a K-12 alternative school serving 735 students as its own district, and it stands out as a high-performing outlier that defies typical expectations for alternative schools. This school consistently achieves academic proficiency rates that significantly exceed state averages across nearly all subjects and grade levels, from elementary through high school. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Avoyelles posted 100% proficiency in English I and 96% in Geometry, compared to just 8% and no data, respectively, at nearby Central Southwest Alternative High School. Even against the better-performing Central High School, Avoyelles excels with 82% proficiency in math versus 50%, and 84% in ELA versus 79%.

What truly sets Avoyelles apart is its exceptional student engagement and retention. The school has maintained a perfect 0.0% dropout rate for four of the last five recorded years, while its chronic absenteeism rate is an astoundingly low 3.4%—a fraction of the state average of 22.5% and far below the 27.1% at Central High School and 79.8% at Central Southwest Alternative High School. This data suggests a direct correlation between high academic performance and strong student attendance, creating a virtuous cycle where success in the classroom drives engagement and keeps students enrolled. The school’s most recent graduation rate of 93% (from 2017-2018) also dwarfs the state average of 85% and the 15.8% rate at Central Southwest.

While Avoyelles shows strength across all subjects, social studies is a relative weak point, with 6th grade scoring 43%—the only subject below the state average of 49%. However, this is a minor blemish on an otherwise stellar record. The school’s success is a powerful case study in how a charter school model can create an effective learning community, even with 54-58% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. For parents, Avoyelles Public Charter School offers a compelling option that proves demographic challenges do not have to dictate outcomes, with a culture and instructional practices that drive exceptional results.