Summary:
This analysis examines three middle-level schools in the 71360 zip code of Pineville, Louisiana, serving grades 4 through 8 and all part of the Rapides Parish school district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks 28th out of 116 districts in the state.
Tioga Junior High School stands out as the academic leader, ranking 77th out of 452 schools statewide (83rd percentile) and outperforming both district and state averages in every subject, with notably high 7th-grade math proficiency (86%) and overall ELA proficiency (86%). Pineville Junior High School is a consistent performer that has improved its state ranking over three years, achieving above-average scores in all core subjects and boasting the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the zip code (13.6%) along with a perfect 0.0% dropout rate. Pineville Elementary School, serving grades 4-6, faces the most significant challenges with the highest free/reduced lunch rate (94.05%) and chronic absenteeism (22.3%), and it is the only school in the area performing below state averages in all subjects.
A key finding is the consistent "8th grade slump" in math, with both junior highs showing a sharp decline from 7th to 8th grade—Tioga drops 32 points (86% to 54%) and Pineville drops 14 points (74% to 60%). Tioga is also an outlier in Social Studies, with 75% proficiency, a full 20 points above the state average. Overall, while Tioga leads academically, Pineville Junior High excels in student retention and attendance, and Pineville Elementary requires additional support due to high poverty levels.
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