Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School

Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School is a small, rural school in Jonesboro, LA, serving 145 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Jackson Parish district, where over 81% of students come from low-income households.

Academically, the school faces significant challenges, with proficiency rates in Math (37%), ELA (50%), and Social Studies (31%) that are well below both the state average and nearby I.A. Lewis School in Lincoln Parish, where rates reach 70%, 75%, and 44% respectively. However, there is a bright spot in 7th grade, where students achieved 51% proficiency in Math and 62% in ELA—close to state averages—suggesting an effective teacher or strategy worth replicating. The school also has a very low student-teacher ratio of 8.5:1, which allows for more individualized attention, yet this advantage has not yet translated into higher test scores. A persistent gender gap exists, with female students ranking higher than male students, indicating a need for targeted support for boys.

On a positive note, the school has made remarkable progress in reducing chronic absenteeism, which dropped from 37.6% in 2022-2023 to just 16.8% in 2024-2025—now better than both the district and state averages. Additionally, the school has maintained a 0.0% dropout rate for three consecutive years, showing it is effective at keeping students enrolled through 8th grade despite academic struggles. These improvements in attendance and retention are critical success stories for the school’s climate and engagement efforts.