Fair Park Middle School

Fair Park Middle School in Shreveport, LA, serves 469 students in grades 6-8 within the Caddo Parish school district, and it faces significant challenges that set it apart from nearby schools. The most critical issue is a catastrophic chronic absenteeism rate of 74.5% for the 2024-2025 school year, which is more than double the rate of the next highest nearby school (Caddo Middle Career and Technology School at 58.8%) and over three times the district average of 31.0%. This absenteeism is nearly seven times higher than the state average of 22.5% and stands in stark contrast to high-performing schools like Caddo Parish Middle Magnet School (10.8%) or Cope Middle School (16.8%). This single metric is the most powerful indicator of the school's systemic struggles, as nearly three-quarters of students missing significant school makes it impossible to achieve grade-level proficiency.

Academically, Fair Park consistently ranks in the bottom 5% of all Louisiana middle schools, with proficiency rates that are persistently low. For example, in the 2025-2026 school year, only 24% of students were proficient in Mathematics and 17% in Social Studies, which is below even other struggling Caddo Parish schools like Ridgewood Middle School (31% Math, 26% Social Studies) and Linear/Northside Middle School (27% Math, 25% Social Studies). The gap is even more pronounced when compared to the district (51% Math, 43% Social Studies) and state averages (62% Math, 55% Social Studies). However, there is a glimmer of hope: 53% of 7th graders were proficient in English Language Arts, which is much closer to the district average of 61% and could indicate an effective teacher or program at that grade level.

Despite these challenges, Fair Park shows a unique strength in serving its homeless student population, ranking in the 28th percentile statewide for this subgroup—a significant outlier compared to its performance with other subgroups. The school also serves a student population with very high economic need, with over 91% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. The data reveals a stark performance gap between Caddo Parish schools and Bossier Parish schools, where schools like Greenacres Middle School and Elm Grove Middle School consistently rank in the top 50% or higher. This suggests that Fair Park's challenges are part of a broader systemic issue within Caddo Parish, particularly for schools serving high-poverty populations, and any meaningful improvement strategy must prioritize solving the attendance crisis as its first and most fundamental goal.