Plain Dealing High School

Plain Dealing High School is a small, alternative public school in the rural town of Plain Dealing, Louisiana, serving 270 students in grades PK through 12 under the Bossier Parish School District, with a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 10:1 that offers potential for personalized attention.

The school’s most pressing challenge is chronic absenteeism, which has fluctuated dramatically—from a high of 60.3% in 2021-2022 to 34.0% in 2024-2025—still well above the district average of 27.9% and state average of 22.5%. This undermines academic progress, even with the small class sizes. On a positive note, the graduation rate surged to 94.7% in 2024-2025, exceeding both the district (90.7%) and state (85.0%) averages, though this follows years of inconsistency. The dropout rate has steadily declined to 2.7% in 2023-2024, now below the state average of 3.1%. Test scores show a “boom or bust” pattern, with standout performances like 88% proficiency in Geometry in 2023-2024, but dropping to 54% the next year. A notable weakness is Social Studies, where proficiency was just 36% in 2025-2026, far below the district’s 62%.

Compared to other schools in Bossier Parish, Plain Dealing stands out for its volatility—while the district maintains more stable performance, this school shows extreme swings in key metrics. The low student-to-teacher ratio is a structural advantage, but high absenteeism means many students aren’t in class to benefit. The recent improvements in graduation and dropout rates suggest positive momentum, but the inconsistent test scores and Social Studies gap indicate the school is still working to find a consistent instructional model. For parents, this is a school with significant potential, held back by deep-seated challenges related to student engagement and poverty.