Summary:
In zip code 71040, there is one high school, Homer High School, serving grades 9 through 12 in Homer, Louisiana, with a total enrollment of 237 students.
Homer High School presents a striking contrast between its graduation success and academic performance. The school boasts an impressive 94.6% graduation rate for the 2024-2025 school year, significantly higher than the state average of 85.0%, and reported a 0.0% dropout rate for 2023-2024. However, proficiency rates in core subjects are well below state averages, with only 18% of students proficient in U.S. History, 26% in Geometry, and 39% in English II. The school serves a very high-needs population, with 95.36% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1. A major concern is the chronic absenteeism rate of 31.9%, which is the highest in the data set and far exceeds both the district (23.2%) and state (22.5%) averages.
The school's state ranking has been consistently low, hovering in the bottom 11% of Louisiana high schools, with the Claiborne Parish school district ranked 100th out of 116 districts (14th percentile). There is notable year-over-year volatility in test scores, such as Algebra I proficiency jumping from 31% to 46% between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, likely due to small class sizes. The key takeaway is that Homer High School excels at retaining students and ensuring graduation, but struggles with academic proficiency, likely driven by high chronic absenteeism and the challenges of serving a high-poverty community. Targeted interventions to improve attendance and academic support are urgently needed to bridge the gap between graduation rates and state academic standards.
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