The 2022 Louisiana Department of Education School Performance Scores are in, and French Settlement has scored near the top in Livingston Parish.
FSHS received an 'A' score from the LDOE and is ranked third among high schools in the parish only behind Live Oak High School and Denham Springs High School. Only 16% of schools statewide landed an 'A' ranking, and French Settlement High is ranked 28th among the state's high schools.
"Despite having larger classrooms from the growth in our community and dealing with the impacts from Hurricane Ida and the pandemic, French Settlement has proven to be one of the best schools in not only Livingston Parish but the state," FSHS Principal John Chewning said. "Our students and staff have overcome incredible obstacles to maintain a level of success we have come to expect at FSHS."
For the second year in a row, FSHS was recognized with an 'A' in strength of diploma, ranking first in the district. The school's ranking also makes the school's strength of diploma the strongest in the state.
"This is a testament to our staff for leading students to certifications they can use immediately after graduation," Chewning said. "Our students are able to achieve industry certifications in a variety of fields from welding to nursing. Our students are gaining a reputation of being career-ready, and they are being sought after by a number of companies who want to hire strong candidates."
The school also received an 'A' for its graduation rate, ranking second in Livingston Parish.
FSHS also received the Equity Honoree Distinction for demonstrating excellence in educating students with disabilities, English language learners and/or economically disadvantaged students.
French Settlement's junior high students were also recognized for having the highest assessment index for middle schools in the district. 7th and 8th graders had the highest ELA LEAP 2025 scores in the parish.
"We know there's still more work to do. Our faculty is working extremely hard to prepare students for standardized testing in the spring. And we are always working on improving how we help students not only graduate but prepare for their next chapter - whether it's college or certification towards their future careers," Chewning said.
Scores are based on student performance on LEAP 2025 tests, which measures what students know in math, English, science and social studies. High school rankings include graduation rates and other factors.
Livingston Parish's high school assessment index is ranked 6th in the state, its ACT index is ranked 4th in the state and the district's strength of diploma is ranked 4th in the state.