The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Math. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jewel M. Sumner Middle School
Jewel M. Sumner Middle School is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in Kentwood, a rural town in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. The school sits on Highway 440, some distance from the town's small commercial core, and is part of the Tangipahoa Parish School System. For a family considering this school, the key facts center on its academic profile, its student body, and the community and district context that surrounds it.
On state assessments, Jewel M. Sumner Middle School shows proficiency rates that are lower than state averages across all tested subjects. In math, about a quarter of students scored at proficient or above; in English language arts, a similar share; in science, a smaller share; and in social studies, about a quarter. These results come from Louisiana's LEAP 2025 assessments. The participation rate was full, meaning nearly every enrolled student took the tests, so the results reflect the entire tested population. There is only one year of data available in the trend series, so no pattern of improvement or decline can be discerned. The school also had a cut-score change for social studies that year, which means the social studies results may not be directly comparable to prior years or to other schools that used the older cut scores. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students in core subjects and whether any academic intervention programs are in place.
Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not offer high school diplomas, so that metric simply does not apply.
The student body is roughly evenly split between white and Black students, with a smaller number of students who identify as two or more races and a small Hispanic presence. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is high, indicating that a substantial portion of families have lower household incomes. Enrollment is stable across the three grades, with slightly more sixth graders than eighth graders. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials; a parent needing that information should contact the school directly.
Kentwood itself is a small rural town that has experienced a slight population decline over the past two decades. The pace of life is slow, and the built environment is characterized by quiet streets and limited walkability. The town has a town hall, a museum, and a few local events tied to music and community gatherings, but major employers are not prominent in any available records. Housing values in the area are moderate, with recent trends showing a small year-over-year decline. A family moving here would find a lower-cost housing market compared to state and national benchmarks, but also fewer amenities and a more isolated setting.
The district-level picture adds important context. Tangipahoa Parish voters recently rejected a property tax renewal that had funded teacher salaries and school operations, creating a revenue gap and uncertainty about staffing and programs. The district has also launched a K-3 literacy overhaul tied to Louisiana's science-of-reading requirements, which will affect how reading is taught in elementary schools. For a middle school that receives students from those elementary schools, this could mean a gradually shifting foundation in literacy skills. Additionally, the district consolidated a small elementary school, reassigning students to other campuses. These district-level changes affect the broader environment in which Jewel M. Sumner Middle School operates.
Several pieces of information common for evaluating a school are absent from the available data. There is no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or course access such as advanced or enrichment offerings. The comparison across districts within Tangipahoa Parish could not be calculated because the county-level cohort was too small for a meaningful benchmark. A parent looking for these details should inquire directly with the school or the district office.
In short, Jewel M. Sumner Middle School serves a rural, lower-income community in a district facing financial pressures and instructional reforms. Its academic proficiency rates sit below state norms, and the data available is limited to a single year of test results. For a family, the decision likely hinges on how the school's supports and environment match a child's needs, and on the fit with the quiet, small-town setting of Kentwood.
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