Best High Schools in Zip Code 70805

Zip code 70805 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is home to three high schools serving grades 6-12 or 9-12, with a total of about 2,179 students, and it starkly illustrates how a single area can contain vastly different educational opportunities.

The standout school is Central High School, part of the high-performing Central Community School District. It earns a 4-star rating, ranks in the top 30% of Louisiana high schools, and boasts a 93.8% graduation rate—well above the state average of 85%. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 19.7% is also below the state average, and it outperforms state averages on every End-of-Course exam, all while serving a student body where over half are economically disadvantaged. In stark contrast, Istrouma High School and Arlington Preparatory Academy, both in the East Baton Rouge Parish district, face severe challenges. Istrouma has a 60% graduation rate, an alarming 81.9% chronic absenteeism rate (nearly four times the state average), and ranks in the bottom 4% of the state. Arlington, despite an incredibly low student-teacher ratio of 4.1:1, has test scores in the single digits (e.g., 7% proficient in U.S. History), suggesting its struggles are systemic rather than due to class size.

The key takeaway for parents is the extreme disparity within this zip code. A student's address determines whether they attend a high-performing school like Central or a struggling one like Istrouma or Arlington. The data shows that high poverty rates (90.65% at Istrouma vs. 50.88% at Central) and chronic absenteeism are powerful indicators of a school's challenges. While Central demonstrates that strong outcomes are possible even with a significant economically disadvantaged population, the other two schools highlight how deeply systemic issues can overwhelm even small class sizes. This zip code is a clear example of how school district boundaries can create dramatically different educational realities for students living just blocks apart.