Summary:
The seven schools in Shreveport's 71118 zip code, all part of the Caddo Parish district, serve approximately 3,613 students from elementary through high school, with the area facing significant socioeconomic challenges as reflected by an average 79% free/reduced lunch rate.
Forest Hill Elementary School stands out as the top performer, consistently earning the highest ratings in the area and being the only school to score at or above district averages in both Math (52%) and English Language Arts (58%). Its 4th-grade scores are particularly strong. In contrast, Pathways in Education-Louisiana Inc. is the most challenged, with a critically low 31.5% graduation rate and a 22.9% dropout rate, suggesting it serves as an alternative program for at-risk students. Southwood High School presents a paradox: despite low test scores and the highest chronic absenteeism rate (41.5%), it boasts a strong 89.1% graduation rate and a low 1.9% dropout rate, indicating a focus on keeping students on track to graduate. Ridgewood Middle School showed a remarkable 99% proficiency rate in Algebra I, likely from a select group of advanced 8th graders.
Overall, academic proficiency across the zip code lags behind state averages, with Social Studies being a universal weakness (27% average proficiency vs. 55% statewide). Chronic absenteeism is a major issue, averaging 31.4%, though Summerfield Elementary (23.2%) and Forest Hill Elementary (23.4%) perform closer to the state average. The two high schools serve vastly different populations, while Forest Hill Elementary demonstrates that high poverty does not preclude strong academic performance, offering a potential model for other schools in the area.
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