Wossman High School

Wossman High School in Monroe, LA, is a public school serving 635 students in grades 9-12 as part of the City of Monroe School District, a district ranked in the bottom 22% of Louisiana, and the school itself has recently improved to a 2-star rating (34th percentile) after years of lower rankings.

Wossman stands out for its exceptional support of specific student groups and its ability to keep students on track to graduate. The school has achieved a remarkable 4-star rating (71st percentile) for its work with Special Education students, a dramatic improvement from just two years prior, and consistently earns 3-star ratings for its African American students—outperforming many nearby schools with similar demographics. Its dropout rate is incredibly low at 0.3%, far below the district (3.1%) and state (3.1%) averages, and even lower than higher-ranked schools like West Monroe High School (0.8%) and Neville High School (1.7%). The graduation rate is also a bright spot at 92.4%, significantly higher than the district (84.0%) and state (83.2%) averages. However, the school faces a paradox with a chronic absenteeism rate of 42.5%, nearly double the district average, suggesting strong re-engagement and credit recovery programs keep students from dropping out despite frequent absences.

Academically, Wossman shows a clear strength in English Language Arts, with 64% of students proficient in English II (above the district average of 61%) and 56% in English I (well above the district average of 48%). In contrast, proficiency in Algebra I (36%) and Biology (43%) lags behind state averages. Compared to its district "sister school," Carroll High School, Wossman significantly outperforms it in nearly every metric, including a much higher state rank (34th percentile vs. 8th). Even against the higher-performing Ouachita Parish High School (46th percentile), Wossman matched or exceeded it in Geometry (50% vs. 48%) and English II (64% vs. 63%), a notable achievement given its higher poverty level. The school’s core challenge is translating its success in student retention and support into higher achievement in math and science.