Summary:
Zip code 71129 in Shreveport, Louisiana, is home to four schools within the Caddo Parish school district, serving a total of 4,372 students across elementary and high school levels, with a high prevalence of economic disadvantage.
The standout school in this area is Caddo Virtual Academy, a non-traditional high school that earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 70th percentile statewide, dramatically outperforming its peers. It boasts the highest graduation rate (87.8%) and lowest chronic absenteeism (16.9%) in the zip code. Among traditional brick-and-mortar schools, Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle School is the consistent achiever, earning a 2-star rating and significantly outperforming its local peer, Turner Elementary Middle School, in every subject. Turner Elementary is the most challenged school, with the lowest state ranking (4th percentile), highest poverty rate (82.25%), and highest chronic absenteeism (36.4%) among elementary schools. Huntington High School faces significant pressure with an alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rate of 48.0% and below-average test scores.
A critical finding is the direct correlation between chronic absenteeism and academic performance across all schools. Caddo Virtual Academy’s low absenteeism aligns with its high performance, while Huntington High’s 48% absentee rate is a primary driver of its struggles. Walnut Hill stands out as an outlier of excellence within the traditional system, often meeting or exceeding district averages, such as 80% of its 8th graders being proficient in Social Studies compared to 46% district-wide. The success of Caddo Virtual Academy within a 1-star district suggests its virtual model and lower student-teacher ratio (10.7:1) provide an effective alternative for a specific subset of students.
Thank you for your feedback!