The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Natalbany Middle
Natalbany Middle serves grades four through eight in the Tangipahoa Parish school system, and its state test results offer a straightforward picture. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was low. In English language arts, the rate was somewhat higher but still low relative to where most families would hope a school to be. Science and social studies results also came in at low levels. These numbers represent a single year of data from the LEAP 2025 assessments, and the school has only that year in the available trend series, so there is no prior year to compare it to. A parent considering this school should want to look into these academic outcomes further with the school or district to understand what instruction and support look like day to day.
The student body is diverse in composition. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The largest group is Black students, followed by Hispanic students, White students, and students identifying as two or more races. There is also a small Asian student presence. The school is a regular public school, neither a charter nor a magnet. It is situated in Tickfaw, a small incorporated village in Tangipahoa Parish that sits along US Highway 51, roughly midway between Independence and Natalbany and a short distance from Hammond. Tickfaw is primarily residential, with a notable Italian-American heritage that is celebrated annually at a local festival. Commercial activity is limited and concentrated along the highway corridor. The village is small in area and population, and its growth has been slow and steady. Proximate civic anchors include Tickfaw State Park, a significant recreational draw with hiking trails, canoeing and a nature center. The village government operates from a municipal building along the highway; there is no traditional downtown square.
The wider district context matters here. In spring 2024, Tangipahoa Parish voters rejected a millage renewal that had funded teacher salaries and school operations, creating a revenue gap that introduces lasting uncertainty for staffing and programs. The district has also launched a K-3 literacy overhaul aligned with state science-of-reading requirements, which changes how early reading is taught across all elementary schools. Additionally, the district consolidated two small schools in late 2023, closing one elementary campus and reassigning students to other schools. These district-level decisions affect what resources and stability Natalbany Middle can draw on.
The school itself opens the door to no particulars about course access, staffing ratios, discipline patterns, or chronic absenteeism; that information was not available in the records used here. The same is true for special education and English learner counts. Housing in the area is priced below national and state benchmarks, making the community relatively affordable. The economy of Tickfaw is heavily weighted toward health care, construction and manufacturing, and many residents likely commute to Hammond, roughly a short drive north, for employment. Tickfaw is a small place with limited walkability and no described public transit. For a family, the decision comes down to whether the academic profile and district context fit what they are looking for. The school serves a diverse, lower-income student population, and its state test results are a clear area to investigate further.
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