The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Northside Middle School
Northside Middle School, part of Caddo Parish Public Schools, serves sixth through eighth grade in Shreveport, Louisiana. The school is located on Linear Street in the western part of the city, a setting that places it within the broader context of a metro area that has seen steady population decline and economic restructuring over recent decades. The school’s enrollment is predominantly Black, with a very small share of white and Hispanic students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
On Louisiana’s LEAP 2025 assessments, Northside Middle School recorded academic results that families will want to examine closely. Proficiency rates in English language arts, math, science, and social studies were all well below state averages. In math, a very small share of students scored at the proficient or advanced level, and the share in science was similarly low. English language arts was the strongest subject relative to the others, but still showed a low proficiency rate. Social studies proficiency was also low. Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to consider. The data covers a single year, so there is no multi-year trend line to assess whether these results represent a stable pattern or a recent change. For context, the number of schools in Caddo Parish against which to compare proficiency was too small to produce a meaningful district-level comparison, so the school’s performance is best understood against the state’s broader metrics rather than local peers.
The student body is around the size typical for a middle school of this grade band. Almost all students come from economically disadvantaged households, a factor that is strongly associated with achievement patterns at the school level. Civil rights data, including discipline rates and special education identification, was not available, so it is not possible to assess how the school’s practices compare in those areas. Information on course access, staffing ratios, and attendance was also missing from the data provided. A parent interested in specific programs, elective offerings, or support services would need to contact the school directly to learn more about what is available.
The school operates as a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet. Its location in Shreveport places it in a city that historically anchored the oil and gas economy of the Ark-La-Tex region but has faced job losses and a declining tax base. Major employers now include Barksdale Air Force Base, healthcare systems, and a mix of logistics and retail operations. The city’s population has been gradually shrinking, and housing costs are relatively low compared to national benchmarks. The school sits within a district where publicly reported information about recent policy changes, curriculum shifts, or bond measures was not found during a web search. That does not mean nothing has changed, only that a concise record of district-level developments was not identified.
For a family weighing options, Northside Middle School presents a straightforward picture that calls for direct investigation. The proficiency data is a soft spot and warrants follow-up with the school about what academic interventions, tutoring, or enrichment are in place. The student body is homogenous in terms of economic background and racial composition, which may matter to some families and be irrelevant to others depending on what peer environment they seek. The broader Shreveport context, with its affordable housing and economic challenges, is the reality of the community the school serves. Without information on discipline, attendance, or course offerings, a parent’s best next step is to visit, ask about the school’s academic improvement strategies, and get a feel for the building’s culture firsthand.
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