Summary:
In zip code 71201 (Monroe, LA), there are two middle schools serving grades 7 and 8: Neville Junior High School and Carroll Junior High School, both part of the City of Monroe School District.
The standout school in this area is Neville Junior High, which ranks in the 72nd percentile of Louisiana middle schools (4-star rating) and has shown strong upward growth over the past three years. It outperforms state averages in every subject, with 80% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 70% in math. In contrast, Carroll Junior High ranks in the bottom 4% of all Louisiana middle schools (0-star rating), with only 22% of students proficient in math and 43% in English Language Arts. The most critical issue at Carroll is its chronic absenteeism rate of 53.2%, meaning more than half of its students miss significant school time—more than double the district and state averages. However, Carroll does have a bright spot: its Algebra I End-of-Course exam proficiency rate is 84%, far exceeding district and state averages, suggesting strong advanced math instruction for select students.
The performance gap between these two schools is extreme, with Neville demonstrating what is possible within the district while Carroll faces severe challenges tied to high poverty levels (94.25% free/reduced lunch rate) and low student engagement. The district's overall low ranking (22nd percentile) is heavily influenced by schools like Carroll, even though Neville proves high-quality education is achievable in the same zip code. For parents, Neville offers a proven track record of excellence and improvement, while Carroll requires careful consideration of its attendance and academic struggles, despite pockets of success in advanced coursework.
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