Summary:
Zip code 71203, covering parts of Monroe and Sterlington, Louisiana, is home to 12 schools serving elementary through high school grades, split between the higher-performing Ouachita Parish School District and the lower-performing City of Monroe School District, creating a stark contrast in educational outcomes.
The standout performer is Sterlington High School, ranked in the 96th percentile statewide with exceptional test scores—91% proficiency in English I and 90% in English II—and a 0.0% dropout rate. Its feeder, Sterlington Middle School, consistently earns 4 stars with 83% math proficiency and low chronic absenteeism (11.1%). In contrast, Roy Neal Shelling Senior Elementary struggles significantly, ranking in the 4th percentile with only 22% math proficiency and a 95.65% free/reduced lunch rate, the highest in the area. A bright spot in the City of Monroe district is Cypress Point Elementary, which scores above the state average in math (60%) despite a high poverty rate (89.79%).
Key metrics reveal a wide socioeconomic divide, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 40.94% at Sterlington High to 95.65% at Roy Neal Shelling. Chronic absenteeism averages 16.5% but varies from 6.1% at Sherrouse School (an alternative school with a 20.6% dropout rate) to 27.9% at East Ouachita Middle School. Ouachita Junior High School presents a paradox: despite a low student-teacher ratio (10.3:1) and low absenteeism (13.1%), its math proficiency (46%) lags behind the Ouachita district average (64%), suggesting that class size alone doesn't guarantee success. Overall, the zip code illustrates how district boundaries can dramatically shape a child's academic experience.
Thank you for your feedback!