Summary:
The eight public schools in zip code 71302 (Alexandria, LA) serve 3,319 students across elementary, middle, and high school grades, all part of the Rapides Parish district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the top 25% of Louisiana districts.
This area presents a stark contrast between high-performing magnet schools and struggling neighborhood schools. The standout is Phoenix Magnet Elementary School, a 5-star school ranking in the top 2% of Louisiana elementary schools for three consecutive years, with 100% proficiency in 5th-grade Math and 4th-grade ELA. Poland Junior High School (serving PK-8) and Peabody Montessori Elementary School are also top performers, both earning 4-star ratings and ranking in the top 15% of elementary schools statewide. In contrast, Martin Park Elementary School is the lowest-performing school, receiving a 0-star rating and ranking in the bottom 5% of Louisiana elementary schools. Peabody Magnet High School and Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet School also struggle, both with 1-star ratings and rankings in the bottom 20% of their school types.
Key metrics reveal a high average free/reduced lunch rate of 85.4%, ranging from 47.1% at Phoenix Magnet to 98.9% at Acadian Elementary. Chronic absenteeism averages 14.3% (below the state average of 22.5%), but varies from an excellent 2.1% at Poland Junior High to a problematic 33.9% at Acadian Elementary. Test score proficiency averages 53.5% in Math, 68.2% in ELA, and 49.7% in Social Studies, all below state averages. A critical takeaway is that the "Magnet" label does not guarantee success, as Phoenix Magnet excels while Peabody Magnet High and Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet underperform. Additionally, Poland Junior High School is a powerful counter-example to the strong correlation between poverty and low scores, achieving top-tier results despite a 79.7% free/reduced lunch rate, making it a model for overcoming socioeconomic barriers.
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