Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Northwest High School

Public Grades 9-12

245^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 325 Louisiana High Schools

Better than 25% of Louisiana high schools

Summary

Northwest High School in Opelousas, LA, is a mid-sized rural school serving 575 students in grades 9-12 within the St. Landry Parish district, where nearly 80% of students come from low socio-economic backgrounds. Over the past decade, the school's state ranking has steadily declined, dropping from the 43rd percentile in 2018-2019 to its lowest-ever position in the 25th percentile for the 2025-2026 school year, placing it in the bottom quarter of Louisiana high schools. This downward trend stands in contrast to nearby schools like Eunice High School (16 miles away) and Mamou High School (14 miles away), which have remained stable or improved over the same period.

A critical concern is the school's support for special education students, which has plummeted from the 41st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 5th percentile in 2025-2026—the lowest subgroup performance among nearby schools. Meanwhile, chronic absenteeism has reached crisis levels at 42.3%, nearly double the state average of 22.5% and significantly higher than the district average of 31.2%. While other local schools like Opelousas Senior High School (52.9%) and North Central High School (49.8%) also struggle with attendance, Northwest's rate has been trending upward from 27.8% in 2020-2021, directly impacting academic performance.

Despite these challenges, the school has historically shown strength in serving its African American students, who ranked in the 57th percentile in 2023-2024, though this has slipped to the 39th percentile recently. The graduation rate has remained relatively high, hovering between 79% and 86% over the last four years, though a drop to 73.6% in 2024-2025 warrants attention. A notable contrast is the Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts (7.9 miles away), a top-20 school in the state with a 94th percentile ranking and only 16.2% chronic absenteeism, demonstrating that high performance is achievable within the same district and area.

575

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,276

Per pupil spending ?

79.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3746 Hwy. 104
Opelousas, LA 70570

(337) 543-2255

District: St. Landry Parish

Feeder schools for Northwest High School:

Elementary:	Grand Prairie Elementary School
	Grolee Elementary School
	Lawtell Elementary School
Middle:	Plaisance Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

73.7%

White:

21.2%

Hispanic:

4.3%

See top rated Louisiana high schools

Compare Northwest High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 39th percentile in 2016 → 25th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Louisiana average (48% vs 63% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (25th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Louisiana average (74% vs 85%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg54%

Louisiana avg63%

245^th of 325

Louisiana public high schools ?

Bottom 25%▼ down 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 39% (2016) to bottom 25% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 7High Schools in the St. Landry Parish

58^th of 116St. Landry 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	26.7	245 of 325	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.8	211 of 329	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.1	193 of 333	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.5	212 of 321	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.9	208 of 326	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.5	230 of 322	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.8	179 of 313	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.7	197 of 302	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	50.3	189 of 297	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.8	180 of 297	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	32.2	256 of 312	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.6	265 of 309	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	41.6	233 of 312	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	37.3	234 of 310	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	48.4	192 of 300	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.6	152 of 297	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	61.5	111 of 301	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	46.7	170 of 291	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	52.7	166 of 290	42.8%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	37.3	159 of 260	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.6	121 of 256	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.5	113 of 260	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.0	96 of 252	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.3	93 of 256	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.5	134 of 243	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.0	83 of 233	64.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	21.8	252 of 313	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.8	217 of 308	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.8	174 of 308	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.7	206 of 308	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.1	170 of 311	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.3	196 of 288	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.5	146 of 292	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	26.4	242 of 321	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	42.9	193 of 323	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.2	164 of 328	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.2	214 of 321	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.1	205 of 322	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.6	185 of 285	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.8	161 of 301	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	31.3	217 of 311	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.2	180 of 313	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.4	182 of 315	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.0	199 of 306	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.3	213 of 301	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.2	188 of 292	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.8	188 of 291	35.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	14.7	159 of 168	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	35.7	108 of 170	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.7	98 of 165	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.4	55 of 138	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	29.3	96 of 139	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	9.3	135 of 135	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	20.1	100 of 122	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	23.4	203 of 244	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	43.3	146 of 245	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.5	158 of 248	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	16.9	231 of 249	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	39.6	165 of 250	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.7	166 of 245	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.2	119 of 249	52.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2026)39th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)30th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)25th percentile~ school

Female (2026)19th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)17th percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2026)5th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

English II59%-8 vs state

Algebra I49%-16 vs state

English I47%-19 vs state

Geometry43%-14 vs state

Biology43%-17 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Northwest High School and help other families decide.

Rate Northwest High School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Northwest High School

Load more schools when map is moved

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)	LEAP Geometry (2026)	LEAP English II (2026)	LEAP U.S. History (2026)	LEAP English I (2026)	LEAP Biology (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 7th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 8th Grade	LEAP Mathematics All Grades	LEAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts All Grades	LEAP Social Studies 7th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 8th Grade	LEAP Social Studies All Grades	LEAP Algebra I End of Course	LEAP Geometry End of Course	LEAP English II End of Course	LEAP U.S. History End of Course	LEAP English I End of Course	LEAP Biology End of Course	Total
Northwest High School	Public	9-12	3746 Hwy. 104	Opelousas	70570	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 543-2255	575	41	13.9	79.8%	122 (21.2%)	424 (73.7%)	25 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	26.7	245^th of 325 public high schools	24.6%		36.8	211^th of 329 public high schools	35.9%	34										49.0	43.0	59.0		47.0	43.0	$15,276
Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts	Public	7-12	1100 E Leo Street	Opelousas	70570	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 942-6195	289	28	10.3	71.3%	108 (37.4%)	157 (54.3%)	9 (3.1%)	9 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	88.1	19^th of 325 public high schools	94.2%		86.1	23^rd of 329 public high schools	93.0%	4		81.0		84.0	88.0	86.0	80.0	77.0	78.0	86.0	71.0	89.0	79.0		87.0	$16,376
Washington Career & Technical Education Center	Public	9-12	605 Buhot Street	Washington	70589	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	No	(337) 826-7360	0	16	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Opelousas Senior High School	Public	9-12	1014 Judson Walsh Drive	Opelousas	70570	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 942-5634	698	58	12.0	84.2%	29 (4.2%)	631 (90.4%)	25 (3.6%)	5 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	16.7	271^st of 325 public high schools	16.6%		17.4	270^th of 329 public high schools	17.9%	1										36.0	26.0	52.0		48.0	41.0	$13,932
Ville Platte High School	Public	9-12	210 West Cotton Street	Ville Platte	70586	Evangeline Parish	Evangeline Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 363-3387	419	36	11.7	84.0%	82 (19.6%)	313 (74.7%)	11 (2.6%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	28.6	236^th of 325 public high schools	27.4%		27.2	240^th of 329 public high schools	27.1%	4										48.0	64.0	54.0	25.0	49.0	43.0	$17,719
Church Point High School	Public	9-12	305 East Lougarre Street	Church Point	70525	Acadia Parish	Acadia Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 684-5472	504	32	15.9	61.3%	328 (65.1%)	111 (22.0%)	37 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.4%)	43.7	190^th of 325 public high schools	41.5%		54.5	157^th of 329 public high schools	52.3%	33										60.0	55.0	65.0	40.0	51.0	63.0	$13,264
Port Barre High School	Public	9-12	846 Saizan St.	Port Barre	70577	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 585-7256	354	34	10.5	64.4%	282 (79.7%)	63 (17.8%)	5 (1.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	42.8	193^rd of 325 public high schools	40.6%		50.5	172^nd of 329 public high schools	47.7%	21										68.0	46.0	59.0	37.0	68.0	56.0	$17,514
Mamou High School	Public	9-12	1008 Seventh Street	Mamou	70554	Evangeline Parish	Evangeline Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 468-5793	443	27	16.4	69.5%	218 (49.2%)	192 (43.3%)	5 (1.1%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.6%)	61.8	136^th of 325 public high schools	58.2%		52.7	164^th of 329 public high schools	50.2%	28										73.0	65.0	71.0	58.0	64.0	61.0	$18,790
Eunice Career & Technical Education Center	Public	9-12	421 South 10th Street	Eunice	70535	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	No	(337) 457-8686	0	8	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
North Central High School	Public	7-12	6579 Hwy. 10	Washington	70589	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 623-4239	220	36	6.1	88.6%	29 (13.2%)	187 (85.0%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9	295^th of 325 public high schools	9.2%		13.3	285^th of 329 public high schools	13.4%	10	51.0	52.0	52.0	69.0	77.0	71.0	52.0	29.0	43.0	20.0	17.0	36.0		50.0		$30,626

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest High School

How many students attend Northwest High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 575 students attended Northwest High School.

Is Northwest High School a good school?

Northwest High School ranks in the bottom 24.6% of Louisiana high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Northwest High School?

Students at Northwest High School are 74% African American, 21% White, 4% Hispanic.

What district is Northwest High School in?

St. Landry Parish

What schools feed into Northwest High School?

Northwest High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Grand Prairie Elementary School
Elementary : Grolee Elementary School
Elementary : Lawtell Elementary School
Middle : Plaisance Middle School

Rate Northwest High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

LALouisiana High School Rankings

LALouisiana District Rankings

Schools in Opelousas, LA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Northwest High School!

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.