The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Denham Springs Junior High School
Denham Springs Junior High School serves sixth through eighth graders in the Livingston Parish Public Schools system, a district that has seen rapid enrollment growth and responded with a major bond measure for new construction and renovations. The school itself is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it sits in a city that has long functioned as a commuter community for Baton Rouge workers, a place that grew quickly after the arrival of the railroad and the expansion of the petrochemical industry in the capital. The city was hit hard by catastrophic flooding from the Amite River in 2016, and recovery has been a central theme since. Downtown Denham Springs has reinvented itself as an Antique Village of shops and restaurants, while the school is part of a district that has seen rapid enrollment growth and recently approved a major bond for new construction and renovations.
The student body at Denham Springs Junior High is large for a middle school, and the grade-level enrollments are fairly balanced across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Racially, the school is majority white, with a notable Hispanic population and a smaller Black student population, along with small numbers of Asian, multiracial, and other groups. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
On state assessments, the school's results show a mixed picture. In English language arts, a majority of students scored at the proficient level or above, which is a solid result. In math, just under half of students reached that bar. In science and social studies, the share of students scoring proficient or above was lower, at under half in each case. These are single-year results, and the data does not yet show a trend because only one year was available. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly in math and science, to understand what supports are in place.
The school is part of the Livingston Parish district, which has been growing and making changes. Voters approved a major school bond in 2022 for new construction, renovations, and technology, and the district has since expanded career and technical education pathways in healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology at the high school level. A new high school in the southern part of the parish is in the design phase. The school board also approved a district-wide attendance zone redistricting plan that took effect for the 2024-2025 school year, so families should confirm their current attendance boundaries. In 2024, voters renewed a property tax dedicated to school operations and maintenance.
Housing in the Denham Springs area is priced above the state average, and rents have been rising. The typical home value and rent are both above the Louisiana benchmark, and the area has seen year-over-year increases in both. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home, assuming a standard down payment, is higher than the typical rent, which may shape a family's decision about buying versus renting. The national unemployment rate has been stable, and mortgage rates have been in the mid-six percent range.
This is a large junior high school in a growing district that has invested in facilities and career pathways. The academic results are strongest in English language arts, with room for improvement in math and the sciences. The school serves a community that has experienced significant flooding and recovery, and the district has been actively managing growth through bond-funded construction and attendance zone changes. A family moving into the area should confirm their attendance zone given the recent redistricting.
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