South Lafourche High School

South Lafourche High School in Cut Off, LA, is a public high school serving 990 students in grades 9-12 in a rural area of Lafourche Parish, where about 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school stands out for its exceptional support of vulnerable students, ranking #1 in Louisiana for homeless students and #5 for special education students, while also achieving strong academic results in core subjects like Algebra I (82% proficiency vs. 65% statewide) and English II (80% vs. 67%). Its graduation rate of 91.1% far exceeds the state average of 85.0%, and its dropout rate is just 1.5% compared to 3.1% statewide, showing the school’s ability to keep students on track.

However, the school faces a significant challenge with chronic absenteeism, which affects 34.1% of students—much higher than the district average of 24.6% and the state average of 22.5%. This creates a paradox: despite many students missing school, those who attend perform very well, suggesting that the school’s targeted interventions for at-risk groups are highly effective. The school has also seen a decline in performance for Hispanic and English Language Learner students, dropping from the 56th to 32nd percentile and 48th to 28th percentile, respectively, over the past few years, which is an area needing attention.

Overall, South Lafourche has a history of strong performance, peaking at a 5-star rating in 2019 and ranking in the top 7% of Louisiana high schools. While its overall state rank has slipped to the 74th percentile, it remains a solidly above-average school. Its mixed results in STEM subjects—strong in Algebra I but weaker in Geometry and Biology—suggest room for growth. If the school can address its chronic absenteeism and support its Hispanic and ELL students, it has the potential to return to its former 5-star status, making it a resilient choice for families in the area.