Summary:
In zip code 70814, there is one middle school, Park Forest Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with 445 students in the East Baton Rouge Parish school district, an area where 74% of students come from low-income households.
Park Forest Middle School has consistently ranked in the bottom 6% of Louisiana middle schools for three consecutive years, earning a 0-star rating each year. The most critical issue is chronic absenteeism, with 36.6% of students missing significant school—far above the state average of 22.5%. This likely drives the school's low test scores in math, English, and social studies across all grade levels. However, the school has a low student-teacher ratio of 9.4:1, which typically allows for more individualized attention, yet this advantage has not translated into academic success. On a positive note, the dropout rate is just 1.3%, much lower than the district's 4.9% and the state's 3.1%, suggesting the school keeps students enrolled through 8th grade.
There is one standout bright spot: Algebra I performance. In 2024-2025, 78% of students taking the Algebra I end-of-course exam were proficient, compared to only 42% in the district and 63% statewide. This suggests either a highly select group of advanced 8th graders or exceptionally effective instruction in that subject. Additionally, 8th grade English Language Arts is the school's strongest standard subject, with 49% proficiency, coming within 20 points of the state average. While the school faces significant challenges tied to poverty and absenteeism, these pockets of success offer potential strategies for improvement in other areas.
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