Phoenix High School

Phoenix High School in Braithwaite, LA, is a small alternative school serving 203 students in grades PK through 12 as part of the high-performing Plaquemines Parish school district, which ranks in the top 20% of Louisiana districts.

This school stands out for its remarkable ability to keep students on track, boasting a zero percent dropout rate for every year on record—far better than the state average of 3-4%. It also excels in advanced math, with 100% of students passing Algebra I and 78% passing Geometry, outperforming both district and state averages. A low student-teacher ratio of 8.2 to 1 allows for personalized attention, which likely contributes to these strong results. However, the school faces challenges: its graduation rate has fluctuated between 80% and 94% in recent years, and Social Studies proficiency lags behind, with only 50% of students meeting state standards compared to 71% district-wide. Chronic absenteeism has also been inconsistent, though it has recently dropped below district and state levels.

Despite serving a high-needs population where 79% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, Phoenix High School defies stereotypes of alternative schools by achieving strong math scores and a 94.4% graduation rate. Its primary areas for growth are stabilizing graduation rates and improving Social Studies instruction. For parents, this school offers a supportive, small-class environment that prioritizes keeping students engaged and excelling in mathematics, making it a unique option in the area.