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Southside Junior High School

Q: Is Southside Junior High School a good school?

Southside Junior High School ranks 216 th of 452 Louisiana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

216^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 452 Louisiana Middle Schools

Better than 52% of Louisiana middle schools

Summary

Southside Junior High School in Denham Springs, LA, serves 536 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the highly-rated Livingston Parish school district, which ranks in the 87th percentile statewide.

Southside is a stable, middle-of-the-pack school within this strong district, consistently earning a 3-star rating and ranking around the 52nd percentile over the past decade. However, it faces clear challenges compared to nearby peers. For instance, Denham Springs Junior High School (2.5 miles away) and Live Oak Junior High (8.6 miles away) both hold 4-star ratings and rank in the 85th and 89th percentiles, respectively. A key concern is a significant drop in academic proficiency as students progress: 6th graders scored 72% proficient in Math and 76% in ELA, but by 8th grade, those scores fell to 46% in Math and 66% in ELA. This decline is more severe than at Denham Springs Junior High, where 8th-grade Math (67%) and ELA (79%) remain much stronger. Additionally, chronic absenteeism has risen sharply from 9.7% in 2022-2023 to 17.1% in 2024-2025, now the highest among its Livingston Parish peers except for Walker Junior High (18.1%). The school also has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with a free/reduced lunch rate of 78.36%.

Despite these hurdles, Southside shows some bright spots. It achieved a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra I End-of-Course exam in 2024-2025, suggesting effective acceleration for top math students. Compared to schools in the neighboring East Baton Rouge Parish, Southside significantly outperforms most, such as Park Forest Middle School and Southeast Middle School, in every academic metric. However, it is overshadowed by Sherwood Middle Academic Academy, a magnet-like school in East Baton Rouge that ranks in the 98th percentile. Overall, Southside is a reliable, average school within a top-tier district, but it needs to focus on improving student engagement and reversing the downward trend in 7th and 8th grade performance to close the gap with its higher-achieving neighbors.

536

Students ?

17.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,354

Per pupil spending ?

78.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

26535 Hwy 16
Denham Springs, LA 70726

(225) 664-4221

District: Livingston Parish

Students who attend Southside Junior High School usually attend:

High:

Denham Springs High School

Feeder schools for Southside Junior High School:

Elementary:	Lewis Vincent Elementary School
	Southside Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.3%

Hispanic:

31.5%

African American:

18.1%

See top rated Louisiana middle schools

Compare Southside Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 64th percentile in 2016 → 52nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Louisiana median (52nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Livingston Parish's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg73%

Louisiana avg62%

216^th of 452

Louisiana public middle schools ?

Top 48%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to top 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 9Middle Schools in the Livingston Parish

15^th of 116Livingston Parish among Louisiana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	54.9	216 of 452	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.0	191 of 447	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.0	215 of 449	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.0	221 of 465	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.0	210 of 460	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.5	132 of 459	71.2%	★★★★☆
2019	65.4	161 of 449	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.3	196 of 411	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	66.3	149 of 437	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	67.0	155 of 435	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	70.4	136 of 482	71.8%	★★★★☆
2014	77.8	90 of 470	80.9%	★★★★☆
2013	77.2	92 of 457	79.9%	★★★★☆
2012	78.5	76 of 442	82.8%	★★★★☆
2011	81.1	53 of 412	87.1%	★★★★☆
2010	78.2	78 of 408	80.9%	★★★★☆
2009	82.2	54 of 425	87.3%	★★★★☆
2008	82.6	46 of 413	88.9%	★★★★☆
2007	83.5	41 of 396	89.6%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	36.7	219 of 344	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.1	162 of 344	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.1	124 of 333	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.8	163 of 360	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.7	199 of 360	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	69.4	75 of 352	78.7%	★★★★☆
2019	59.4	120 of 338	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.0	155 of 313	50.5%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2018	44.9	90 of 170	47.1%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	39.3	37 of 63	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.6	39 of 56	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.5	25 of 48	47.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.2	43 of 56	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.5	37 of 48	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	51.4	20 of 55	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.9	9 of 38	76.3%	★★★★☆
2018	63.3	7 of 26	73.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	55.2	208 of 434	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.6	188 of 415	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.2	236 of 415	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.4	219 of 444	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	202 of 441	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.7	141 of 441	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.7	148 of 418	64.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	42.5	114 of 178	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.7	83 of 155	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.6	89 of 152	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	118 of 163	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.7	115 of 163	29.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.2	90 of 153	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.1	86 of 128	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.7	76 of 118	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	52.7	218 of 450	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.8	180 of 437	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.0	229 of 444	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.2	270 of 459	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.8	229 of 458	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.6	159 of 455	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.9	205 of 430	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.8	185 of 403	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	53.6	211 of 435	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.5	167 of 414	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.1	190 of 426	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.4	182 of 443	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.4	192 of 442	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.1	132 of 442	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	60.3	169 of 418	59.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	48.2	108 of 225	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.8	61 of 168	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.3	53 of 175	69.7%	★★★★☆
2023	58.9	60 of 206	70.9%	★★★★☆
2022	55.3	67 of 206	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	85.4	10 of 210	95.2%	★★★★★
2019	57.1	64 of 202	68.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	58.6	151 of 338	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.8	129 of 316	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.7	161 of 320	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	65.3	115 of 352	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.6	120 of 362	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.8	95 of 358	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	60.5	146 of 350	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.5	139 of 338	58.9%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2026)55th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)52nd percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)52nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)52nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)51st percentile~ school

Disabled (2018)47th percentile-5 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)41st percentile-11 vs school

African American (2026)36th percentile-16 vs school

Hispanic (2026)36th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts70%~ state avg

Mathematics61%~ state avg

Social Studies57%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Southside Junior High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				LEAP Mathematics (2026)				LEAP English Language Arts (2026)				LEAP Social Studies (2026)					LEAP Algebra I (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	LEAP Mathematics 6th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 7th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 8th Grade	LEAP Mathematics All Grades	LEAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts All Grades	LEAP Social Studies 5th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 6th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 7th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 8th Grade	LEAP Social Studies All Grades	LEAP Algebra I End of Course	Total
Southside Junior High School	Public	6-8	26535 Hwy 16	Denham Springs	70726	Livingston Parish	Livingston Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(225) 664-4221	536	31	17.4	78.4%	243 (45.3%)	97 (18.1%)	169 (31.5%)	13 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.4%)	54.9	216^th of 452 public middle schools	52.2%		58	191^st of 447 public middle schools	57.3%	25	72.0	61.0	46.0	61.0	76.0	70.0	66.0	70.0		51.0	62.0	60.0	57.0		$12,354
Denham Springs Junior High School	Public	6-8	401 Hatchell Lane	Denham Springs	70726	Livingston Parish	Livingston Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(225) 665-8898	811	49	16.3	74.2%	456 (56.2%)	126 (15.5%)	186 (22.9%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (4.3%)	83.3	70^th of 452 public middle schools	84.5%		77.4	105^th of 447 public middle schools	76.5%	35	84.0	80.0	67.0	78.0	85.0	84.0	79.0	83.0		71.0	76.0	78.0	75.0		$11,385
Juban Parc Junior High School	Public	6-8	12470 Brown Road	Denham Springs	70726	Livingston Parish	Livingston Parish	No	No	No	No	(225) 664-1001	564	33	17.0	74.8%	342 (60.6%)	127 (22.5%)	72 (12.8%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.8%)	65.4	160^th of 452 public middle schools	64.6%		75.7	112^th of 447 public middle schools	74.9%	48	73.0	66.0	50.0	65.0	80.0	75.0	81.0	79.0		55.0	58.0	70.0	61.0		$13,980
Southeast Middle School	Public	6-8	15000 Harrells Ferry	Baton Rouge	70816	East Baton Rouge Parish	East Baton Rouge Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(225) 753-5930	826	66	12.4	75.2%	36 (4.4%)	501 (60.7%)	237 (28.7%)	31 (3.8%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.4%)	16 (1.9%)	12.5	408^th of 452 public middle schools	9.7%		10.4	412^th of 447 public middle schools	7.8%	4	32.0	45.0	27.0	35.0	44.0	53.0	55.0	50.0			30.0	36.0	24.0	100.0	$17,598
Westside Junior High School	Public	6-8	12615 Burgess Avenue	Walker	70785	Livingston Parish	Livingston Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(225) 665-8259	397	30	13.4	75.3%	252 (63.5%)	58 (14.6%)	71 (17.9%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.5%)	74.6	121^st of 452 public middle schools	73.2%		75.7	113^th of 447 public middle schools	74.7%	8	74.0	76.0	67.0	73.0	79.0	80.0	83.0	80.0		48.0	70.0	79.0	66.0		$11,845
Walker Junior High	Public	6-8	13443 Burgess Ave.	Walker	70785	Livingston Parish	Livingston Parish	No	No	No	(n/a)	(225) 664-0243	508	32	16.0	82.1%	243 (47.8%)	165 (32.5%)	76 (15.0%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.5%)	53.9	222^nd of 452 public middle schools	50.9%		39.3	283^rd of 447 public middle schools	36.7%	61	52.0	49.0	37.0	46.0	83.0	73.0	78.0	79.0		53.0	59.0	70.0	61.0	100.0	$11,012
Woodlawn Middle School	Public	6-8	14939 Tiger Bend Road	Baton Rouge	70817	East Baton Rouge Parish	East Baton Rouge Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(225) 751-0436	807	63	12.7	67.8%	121 (15.0%)	447 (55.4%)	174 (21.6%)	27 (3.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	35 (4.3%)	34	313^th of 452 public middle schools	30.8%		46.6	250^th of 447 public middle schools	44.1%	63	61.0	50.0	48.0	52.0	63.0	62.0	67.0	65.0		28.0	35.0	57.0	40.0		$19,005
Sherwood Middle Academic Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	1020 Marlbrook Dr	Baton Rouge	70815	East Baton Rouge Parish	East Baton Rouge Parish	No	Yes	No	Yes	(225) 272-3090	759	47	16.2	49.7%	211 (27.8%)	327 (43.1%)	69 (9.1%)	129 (17.0%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	19 (2.5%)	97.1	9^th of 452 public middle schools	98.0%		96.2	7^th of 447 public middle schools	98.4%	2	94.0		91.0	94.0			99.0			88.0	91.0		92.0		$15,926
Park Forest Middle School	Public	6-8	3760 Aletha Drive	Baton Rouge	70814	East Baton Rouge Parish	East Baton Rouge Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(225) 275-6650	445	47	9.4	74.4%	9 (2.0%)	306 (68.8%)	116 (26.1%)	8 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	8.7	423^rd of 452 public middle schools	6.4%		3.1	436^th of 447 public middle schools	2.5%	13	32.0	31.0	33.0	32.0	35.0	40.0	49.0	41.0		16.0	32.0	38.0	28.0		$20,679
Live Oak Middle School	Public	5-6	8444 Cecil Drive	Watson	70706	Livingston Parish	Livingston Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(225) 664-3211	672	37	17.9	67.7%	548 (81.5%)	60 (8.9%)	38 (5.7%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (2.5%)								(n/a)	82.0			77.0	89.0			87.0	69.0	61.0			65.0		$10,776

Frequently Asked Questions about Southside Junior High School

How many students attend Southside Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 536 students attended Southside Junior High School.

Is Southside Junior High School a good school?

Southside Junior High School ranks 216^th of 452 Louisiana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Southside Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Southside Junior High School usually go on to attend Denham Springs High School

What is the racial makeup of Southside Junior High School?

Students at Southside Junior High School are 45% White, 32% Hispanic, 18% African American, 2% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Southside Junior High School in?

Livingston Parish

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Latest Louisiana data All new data »

2025–26 LEAP test scoresJul 6, 2026

2023–24 dropout ratesFeb 24, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataDec 1, 2025

2023–24 through 2024–25 graduation ratesNov 22, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Louisiana Dept of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.