Summary:
The four schools in zip code 71220 (Bastrop, LA) serve approximately 2,640 students across elementary, high school, and alternative programs, all within the Morehouse Parish school district, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 49th percentile statewide.
The most striking finding is the dramatic performance gap between the two alternative schools and the two traditional public schools. Morehouse Magnet School is the clear standout, achieving near-perfect proficiency rates (e.g., 100% in 6th and 7th Grade Math and Biology) despite serving a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students (72% free/reduced lunch). In stark contrast, Morehouse Elementary School ranks in the 0th percentile among Louisiana elementary schools for three consecutive years, with only 7% proficiency in Math and 5% in Social Studies. Bastrop High School also struggles, ranking in the bottom 6% of high schools statewide with critically low scores (8% Math proficiency) and the highest chronic absenteeism rate in the area (44.2%). Meanwhile, Beekman Charter School performs solidly, with a strong graduation rate (89.7%) and low dropout rate (0.8%), though it has the second-highest absenteeism rate (39.5%).
Key takeaways include the "alternative school paradox," where the label masks vastly different models—from the elite magnet program at Morehouse Magnet to the struggling traditional schools. Chronic absenteeism is not the primary driver of low performance, as Morehouse Elementary has the lowest absenteeism rate (13.1%) but the worst test scores. The district's overall 3-star rating hides an extraordinary 89-percentage-point gap in 4th Grade Math proficiency between Morehouse Magnet (95%) and Morehouse Elementary (6%), pointing to significant inequities in educational opportunity within the same community.
Thank you for your feedback!