Red River Junior High School

Red River Junior High School in Coushatta, LA, serves 213 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Red River Parish school district, a high-poverty area where 95% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most compelling story at Red River Junior High is its strong academic turnaround. Over the last four years, math proficiency has jumped from 32% to 49%, and English Language Arts (ELA) has risen from 50% to 58%. This upward trend sets it apart from the nearby Red River Academic Academy, where in the most recent shared data, the Junior High outperformed the Academy in both math (43% vs. 37%) and ELA (56% vs. 41%). A key factor likely driving this improvement is the school’s remarkably low student-teacher ratio of 8.4:1, compared to the Academy’s 12.1:1, allowing for more individualized attention. Additionally, the school reports a 0% dropout rate for four of the last five years, an exceptional achievement that shows it is highly effective at keeping students on track to graduate.

Despite these strengths, challenges remain. Chronic absenteeism stands at 17%, which is similar to the district average but higher than the Academy’s very low 5.1% rate. The school also struggles with serving its Special Education students, who rank in the bottom 11% of the state. However, there is a notable success with homeless students, who earned the highest star rating of any subgroup at the school, suggesting effective support systems are in place for this vulnerable population. Overall, Red River Junior High is a school on a positive trajectory, offering a strong academic option within the district, especially for families seeking a smaller, more supportive learning environment.