Office of Juvenile Justice

The Office of Juvenile Justice in Louisiana oversees 4 alternative high schools, serving students in various parts of the state. While these schools face significant challenges, including low test scores and high rates of economic disadvantage, a few standout institutions are worth highlighting.

Riverside Alternative High School stands out for its low student-teacher ratio of 7.5, which may contribute to a more personalized learning environment. Additionally, the school's performance on the English II End of Course exam is the highest among the group, with 26% of students scoring proficient or better, compared to the state average of 67%. In contrast, Central Southwest Alternative High School has the highest student-teacher ratio at 35, which could present challenges in providing individualized attention, but the school's performance on the Geometry End of Course exam is the highest among the schools, with 10% of students scoring proficient or better, compared to the state average of 58%.

Across the Office of Juvenile Justice schools, there is a consistent pattern of significantly underperforming on standardized tests, with proficiency rates ranging from 5% to 26% compared to state averages of 49% to 70%. The lowest-performing school, Central Southwest Alternative- St. Martinville, ranked 332 out of 333 Louisiana high schools and received a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and support to address the unique challenges faced by students in alternative school settings, particularly those with high rates of economic disadvantage.