Summary:
Zip code 71366, serving the rural community of Saint Joseph, Louisiana, contains two public schools—Tensas Elementary School (PK-5) and Tensas High School (6-12)—both part of the Tensas Parish district, which serves a small, high-poverty community with over 94% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Tensas Elementary School is the stronger performer in the area, recently earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 65th percentile statewide. Its 4th grade class is a standout, with 69% proficiency in math and 73% in English Language Arts (ELA)—both meeting or exceeding state averages. However, social studies is a major weakness across the school, with only 32% of all students proficient. In contrast, Tensas High School has struggled significantly, consistently ranking in the bottom 12% of Louisiana high schools. While it boasts a low student-teacher ratio of 8.6:1 and a graduation rate of 85.7% (slightly above the state average), its academic proficiency on End-of-Course exams is alarmingly low—just 5% in Geometry and 31% in Algebra I. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue at the high school, affecting 39.9% of students, nearly double the state average.
A key takeaway is the sharp decline in performance from elementary to high school. While Tensas Elementary shows improvement and a bright spot in 4th grade, Tensas High School reveals a disconnect between graduation rates and actual readiness, with many students earning diplomas despite low test scores. Across both schools, ELA is a relative strength, while social studies is a persistent weakness—a gap of 30-40 percentage points that suggests a systemic issue within the Tensas Parish district. For parents, this data highlights that while the elementary school offers some hope, the high school faces deep challenges tied to poverty and engagement that outweigh its favorable class sizes.
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