The top reported proficiency rate is 3% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Sherrouse School
Sherrouse School serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade as an alternative school within the City of Monroe School District. Its designation as an alternative school signals that it is designed for students who have not succeeded in a traditional school setting, often due to behavioral, disciplinary, or academic challenges. This mission shapes every aspect of the school, from the composition of its student body to the academic results the state reports.
The school enrolls a small student population for a K-12 campus, and the grade distribution is heavily weighted toward the upper grades, with very few students in the early elementary years. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, and a very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the supports offered for those groups.
State test results for math, English language arts, science, and social studies show that the vast majority of students scored well below the proficient level. In math, essentially no students reached proficiency. In ELA and social studies, only a small percentage did. In science, no students met the bar. Participation rates on the tests were high, so the results reflect nearly the entire tested population. When compared against other districts in Ouachita Parish, Sherrouse’s overall proficiency across subjects lands in the bottom quartile. The four-year graduation rate was not reported, which is not uncommon for an alternative school where grade progression and completion timelines often differ from those of a standard high school. A parent considering this school should understand that the academic profile reflects the school’s mission to serve students who are already behind or at risk, not a typical community school.
The school is located in Monroe, the parish seat and economic center of northeastern Louisiana. Monroe is a mid-sized city that has experienced a long-term population decline, and its economy is anchored by public-sector employers such as the Ouachita Parish School Board, Monroe City Schools, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and several hospitals. Housing values in the area are below both the state and national averages, and rents are moderate relative to local incomes. The city has a spread-out, car-dependent layout with a municipally owned bus system, a regional mall, a zoo, and several museums. No major new housing developments were found in available public records, and the city has faced natural disasters including major flooding and a tornado in recent years, which may factor into a family’s broader context.
The district itself reported no recent significant changes such as bond measures, curriculum shifts, or school closures that would affect a parent’s decision. Sherrouse School operates within this stable but resource-constrained environment.
For a family, the key question is whether an alternative setting is appropriate for their child. Sherrouse is not a school a family would choose for strong academic outcomes; the test data is very low, and the school’s purpose is to provide a pathway for students who need more structure, intervention, or a different environment than a traditional school offers. A parent should talk directly with the school about the specific programs, counseling supports, credit recovery options, and transition plans for students who may want to return to a regular school or pursue a diploma through an alternative route. The rate of chronic absenteeism was not reported, so that would be another topic to raise with the school. The strong participation on state tests suggests the school prioritizes accountability, but the results themselves underscore the depth of the academic challenges the student population faces.
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