The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Harrisonburg High School
Harrisonburg High School serves every grade from pre-kindergarten through twelve, making it the single school for the entire village of Harrisonburg and much of surrounding Catahoula Parish. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it is the only school in the Catahoula Parish district, so the comparison data that would normally place it relative to other districts in the parish does not apply there is only one. The school sits on Bushley Street in the compact village center, integrated into the small civic footprint rather than on a separate campus.
Harrisonburg itself is a very small, rural parish seat on the west bank of the Ouachita River, and it has experienced sustained population decline over recent decades. Publicly reported sources describe it as at risk of becoming a ghost town. The village remains primarily residential with civic functions tied to its role as parish seat, and no major employers or new housing developments were identified in the research. For a family considering this school, the community context is one of deep rural isolation and demographic contraction.
The student body is small for a school covering pre-K through twelve, and the enrollment is heavily white, which reflects the surrounding population. A meaningful share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a fuller picture of the school's support for those populations is not possible from the information provided.
State testing results from the LEAP 2025 assessments are available for grades three through eight. In English language arts, about two out of every five students scored at proficient or above, which is a higher rate than the school posted in math, where roughly three in ten students reached that bar. Science proficiency was lower, at about one in five, and social studies came in at a similar level. These are single-year results, so there is no trend to examine. A parent may want to ask the school directly about academic progress over time and about how the school supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency, especially in the subjects where rates are soft.
Because this school covers all grades, there is no separate high school graduation rate reported in the data that was available. The lack of a graduation metric means that a family evaluating the upper grades will need to seek that information from the school or the district directly. Similarly, data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access such as Advanced Placement or dual-enrollment offerings was absent from the information provided. For a school that houses the full K-12 pathway, these are significant gaps. A parent looking at this school should follow up with the administration on what academic options exist in the high school years, how the school tracks and supports attendance, and what the teacher-to-student ratio looks like across the grade levels.
The district-level research found little of lasting impact in terms of recent changes or strategic priorities, and no program offerings were listed for the school itself. The absence of information on career and technical education pathways or advanced coursework is worth noting, particularly for families with middle and high school students who want to know what options are available before they arrive at those grades.
For a family that values a very small, rural school where a single campus serves children from pre-K through senior year, Harrisonburg High School fits that description. The proficiency numbers suggest that the school faces challenges in bringing students to grade-level standards in math, science, and social studies, with English language arts being the relative bright spot. The community's dramatic population decline is a real context for any family weighing the long-term vitality of the school and the town. A parent should plan to visit, talk with the principal about what the high school program actually offers, and ask directly about the metrics that were not available in this data set, especially graduation rates and postsecondary readiness.
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