Summary:
This analysis examines two middle schools in zip code 70535 (Eunice, LA), both part of the St. Landry Parish school district, which serves grades 5-8 across a high-poverty area where over 84% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Eunice Junior High School (grades 7-8) stands out for its dramatic improvement in Mathematics, jumping from 44% to 58% proficiency year-over-year, though its state ranking dropped from 3 stars to 2 stars. It has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.8:1 but struggles with a 3.6% dropout rate (above the state average) and 31.8% chronic absenteeism. In contrast, Central Middle School (grades 5-6) excels in English Language Arts, matching the state average at 70% proficiency, and its 6th graders significantly outperform 5th graders in both Math (62% vs. 42%) and ELA (73% vs. 67%). However, Central Middle has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 34.9%, well above the state average of 22.5%.
Both schools share a critical weakness in Social Studies, with proficiency rates (46% at Eunice Junior High, 43% at Central Middle) far below the state average of 55%. The most pressing issue is the absenteeism crisis, as both schools exceed the district average of 31.2%, likely hindering academic progress. While Eunice Junior High shows promise in Math and Central Middle in ELA, the district should prioritize addressing chronic absenteeism and Social Studies instruction to improve overall outcomes for students in this area.
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