Best Public Schools in Zip Code 71292

Zip code 71292 in West Monroe, Louisiana, is home to eight public schools within the Ouachita Parish school district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade across five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.

The standout schools in this area are Pinecrest Elementary/Middle School and West Ouachita High School. Pinecrest is the academic star, achieving top test scores in math (69%), ELA (82%), and social studies (62%) while boasting the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the zip code at just 10.8%—less than half the state average. West Ouachita High School is a consistent achiever with a 4-star rating, a 92.7% graduation rate, and strong proficiency in Biology (79%) and English II (79%). In contrast, Riser Middle School and Riverbend Elementary School face significant challenges, with Riser Middle posting only 43% math proficiency and Riverbend Elementary at 25% math proficiency. The Woodlawn Elementary School and Woodlawn Middle School form a strong pipeline, with Woodlawn Elementary achieving 75% math proficiency and Woodlawn Middle at 76% math proficiency.

Key metrics reveal a high level of economic need, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 65.9% across the zip code, highest at Lenwil Elementary School (82.67%) and lowest at West Ouachita High School (46.07%). Chronic absenteeism averages 21.6%, closely mirroring the state average, but ranges from Pinecrest's excellent 10.8% to Lenwil's concerning 28.3%. The student-teacher ratio averages 13.4:1, with Pinecrest enjoying the best ratio at 11.5:1. A critical finding is the direct link between absenteeism and performance: schools with the lowest attendance, like Lenwil and Riverbend, also have the lowest test scores, while high-attendance schools like Pinecrest and Woodlawn Elementary excel. Additionally, the "Riser complex" shows a potential middle school slide, as Riser Elementary School performs better in ELA (61%) than its middle school counterpart (56%), despite sharing a campus.