The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Alexandria Middle Magnet School
Alexandria Middle Magnet School serves grades five through eight and sits within the Rapides Parish public school system in Alexandria, Louisiana. The school is a regular public school, and its magnet designation suggests a thematic focus that may draw students from across the district, though the specific magnet theme is not detailed in the available data. The enrollment is substantial for a middle school, with the largest grade-level cohorts in seventh and eighth grades and a noticeably smaller fifth-grade class. The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller share of white students and very small representations of other racial and ethnic groups. A very high proportion of students come from low-income households, as indicated by the share who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Academic performance, as measured by Louisiana’s LEAP 2025 state assessments for the most recent school year, shows low proficiency rates across all tested subjects. In English language arts, roughly one-fifth of students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In math, the figure was notably lower, and in science and social studies, it was lower still. These results place the school’s overall academic attainment well below state averages and likely among the lower-performing middle schools in the region, though the comparison set for Rapides Parish is limited to a single district, making a local comparative read difficult to draw. The school had full participation in testing, so the results reflect nearly the entire student body. Only a single year of assessment data is available, so there is no trend to examine for improvement or decline. A parent exploring this school will want to understand what academic supports are in place and how the school is working to raise achievement, as the current proficiency levels are a clear area of concern.
The school is located in Alexandria, a mid-sized city that functions as the retail, health care, and transportation hub for a multi-parish region of central Louisiana. The city’s economy is anchored by two major hospitals, some manufacturing, government, and regional retail. Population has been declining modestly, and the built environment is auto-oriented, with most errands requiring a car. Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared to national and state benchmarks. The school’s address on Maryland Avenue places it in a residential neighborhood; the broader community context suggests that families who live in or near Alexandria would find typical mid-sized Southern city amenities, including a regional airport and a historic downtown along the Red River, though public transit is limited.
No data was available on several dimensions that can matter to families: staffing ratios, teacher qualifications, chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, course access, or special education and English learner populations. The school’s Title I status was also not recorded. These gaps mean a parent cannot assess class sizes, school climate, or the breadth of programs offered beyond the core academic picture. A visit or conversation with the school would be needed to fill in those details.
Alexandria Middle Magnet School presents as a high-poverty, majority-Black middle school in a mid-sized Louisiana hub city, where state test scores are low across the board. For a family already in the Rapides Parish system, the magnet designation may offer a distinct curricular approach worth investigating. For a family new to the area, the school’s academic results are a significant signal, and understanding the school’s improvement efforts and support structures would be essential before making a decision.
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