The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Plaisance Middle School
Plaisance Middle School is a regular public school in St. Landry Parish, serving grades five through eight. It sits on a state highway on the outskirts of Opelousas, a small city that serves as the parish seat. The school is part of a district that covers the entire parish, and it draws its students from the surrounding rural and suburban area. No charter or magnet designation applies here.
The student body is small for a middle school. The majority of students are Black, with a substantial white minority and a very small number of American Indian or Hispanic students. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records, so a family with specific needs in those areas would want to ask the school directly.
State testing results from the 2024-25 school year, the only year available, show that about a third of students met the state’s proficiency benchmark in English language arts. In math, fewer than one in five did so. Science and social studies showed similar low proficiency rates, with roughly one in five students reaching the proficient level. Participation in testing was universal, so the results reflect nearly the entire enrolled population. Because only one year of data is available, no trend can be assessed. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
Information on course offerings, staffing, discipline, and attendance was not available in the data sources used for this profile. Families would need to contact the school to learn about elective options, class sizes, and the school’s approach to student behavior and chronic absence.
Opelousas itself is a city with a historic courthouse square downtown, a designated National Historic District. The economy relies on agriculture, oil, manufacturing, wholesale, and retail, with major employers including a racetrack and casino, a large Walmart distribution center, and food companies such as Tony Chachere’s. The city brands itself as both the spice capital of the world and the zydeco music capital of the world, reflecting deep Creole and Acadian heritage. Population has been declining in recent years, a trend that may affect the school’s enrollment trajectory. Housing values in the area are well below state and national medians, and rents are relatively modest. The school’s attendance zone likely includes a mix of older single-family homes and rural land.
For a family considering Plaisance Middle School, the picture is straightforward. This is a neighborhood school serving a high-poverty student population, and its state test results fall well below the parish average. A parent may want to inquire about what academic support programs are in place, how the school addresses gaps in math and science, and what enrichment opportunities exist given that the data did not show any specialized programs or pathways. For families who value proximity and a small environment, and who are willing to be actively engaged in supplementing academics, the school could work. For those seeking a school with higher overall proficiency or a wider array of electives and advanced coursework, other options in the parish or beyond may be worth exploring.
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