The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Vernon Middle School
Vernon Middle School serves fifth and sixth graders in Leesville, the parish seat of Vernon Parish. It is one of several schools operated by the Vernon Parish School District, which covers a rural and small-town region anchored by the Fort Johnson Army installation. As a regular public school with only two grade levels, it does not produce a graduation rate, and state testing data—the main academic signal available—covers math, English language arts, science, and social studies.
On Louisiana’s LEAP 2025 assessments, most students at Vernon Middle School do not reach the proficient level. In English language arts, roughly two students in every five scored proficient or above, which is the strongest outcome among the four tested subjects. Math performance is measurably lower: around one student in four reached proficiency. Science and social studies each show about one in five students scoring proficient. These figures represent a single year of data, so there is no trend to assess, and the school’s participation rate was full, meaning nearly all enrolled students took the tests. A cutoff-score change for social studies was flagged, which means the most recent result may not be directly comparable to prior years; a parent may want to ask the school how that change affected this year’s scores.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse within a modest total enrollment. White students make up the largest group, followed by Black or African American students, then Hispanic or Latino students, with smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races and Asian students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic circumstances of the surrounding community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available source.
Leesville is a small city that has seen population decline over the past decade, and its economy is heavily shaped by the nearby Army base, which brings a transient military population and a significant rental housing market. Median household income in the city is low relative to national figures, and the poverty rate is elevated. Home values in the area have softened recently, while rents are rising, consistent with broader national trends. The school itself sits on North Street, in a residential and light-commercial part of the city, a short distance from the historic downtown core.
The Vernon Parish School District operates multiple elementary, middle, and high schools across several communities in the parish, including Leesville, Anacoco, Hornbeck, Rosepine, and others. No cross-district comparisons are available because Vernon Parish is the only district in its county for this data set, so it is not possible to say how this school’s outcomes compare to nearby districts. The district’s website provides parent resources, but the available profile for the school did not include information on course offerings, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism, so those aspects of school life are not covered here.
Vernon Middle School offers a traditional middle-grades program within a district that serves a mix of military-connected families, rural residents, and small-town households. The academic results show room for improvement across all subjects, particularly in math, science, and social studies. Families weighing this school may want to visit, talk with staff about how students who are behind are supported, and ask about any enrichment or intervention programs that are in place.
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