Summary:
Zip code 71202 in Monroe, Louisiana, is home to two middle schools—Martin Luther King Junior High School and Richwood Junior High School—serving grades 6-8 in a community where over 92% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating high economic need.
Richwood Junior High School stands out as the stronger overall performer. It boasts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 13.7%, less than half of Martin Luther King Junior High School's 29.1% and well below the state average of 22.5%. Academically, Richwood leads in math proficiency (47% vs. 34%) and English Language Arts (62% vs. 60%). This success is partly linked to its district, Ouachita Parish, which ranks 38th in Louisiana (3-star), compared to City of Monroe School District (ranked 91st, 1-star). However, Martin Luther King Junior High School has a notable bright spot: its Algebra I students achieved an impressive 85% proficiency rate, far exceeding both its district (61%) and the state (65%), suggesting a strong advanced math program.
Both schools share challenges, particularly in social studies, where they are tied at 43% proficiency—12 points below the state average. On a positive note, dropout rates are extremely low at both schools (0.3% and 0.4%), far below the state's 3.1%, indicating strong efforts to keep students enrolled through 8th grade. For parents, Richwood Junior High School offers better overall academics and attendance, while Martin Luther King Junior High School excels in advanced math but struggles with chronic absenteeism.
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