The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on T.h. Harris Middle School
T.H. Harris Middle School serves grades six through eight in Metairie, a large suburban community in Jefferson Parish. It is a regular public school, neither a charter nor a magnet, and no Title I designation was provided. Enrollment is moderate for a middle school, with each grade carrying a comparable number of students. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, followed by a substantial Black population, a smaller White share, and very few students of other racial backgrounds. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a majority of families face economic pressure.
On the Louisiana LEAP 2025 assessments, which measure proficiency at levels that meet state standards, the school’s results across all four tested subjects—math, English language arts, science, and social studies—land below state averages. Proficiency in ELA is higher than in math, science, and social studies, but still low overall. Only a single year of testing data is available, so no trend can be assessed; a parent may want to ask the school about prior performance and any improvement efforts underway. Participation rates were complete, meaning nearly all enrolled students took the tests.
The school’s academic environment appears to serve a student population with significant support needs. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, which is a gap worth exploring directly with the school, as these populations often require additional resources. No information on course offerings, programs, or extracurriculars was provided, so families should inquire about what is available beyond the core curriculum.
Metairie itself is a built-out suburban area with a mix of older residential neighborhoods like Old Metairie and denser commercial corridors along Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Causeway Boulevard. The community is car-oriented, with street life concentrated at commercial nodes. Major employers include training facilities for professional sports teams and television station offices. Civic anchors include a regional library and the Bucktown Marsh Boardwalk. Housing values in the area are moderately above the national benchmark, while rents are slightly below the national average, making the area neither exceptionally expensive nor cheap by broader standards.
The Jefferson Parish Public School System, which oversees T.H. Harris, has been undergoing significant changes. A school consolidation plan approved in 2023 is closing and merging schools across the parish and redrawing attendance zones, a process that has generated parent concerns about longer commutes and disruption. The district also approved budget cuts for the 2024-2025 school year, affecting central office staff, transportation, and some programs. On the positive side, the district adopted a new evidence-based reading curriculum starting in the 2023-2024 school year and received a federal grant to enhance STEM education, both of which could benefit middle school students if implemented at T.H. Harris.
Because the comparison set included only one school in this category, it is not possible to place T.H. Harris relative to other Jefferson Parish middle schools on proficiency. The school’s low test results, combined with the district’s financial pressures and attendance zone changes, mean a family choosing this school should look closely at what academic supports are in place, ask about special education and English learner services, and understand how the consolidation plan might affect the school’s staffing and programming in the coming years. For a parent seeking a middle school with strong academic outcomes, this school’s current performance would warrant careful investigation.
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