Total enrollment
25,952
-865 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Ouachita Parish
Louisiana · Public K-12
Ouachita Parish serves about 25,952 K-12 students across 59 public schools, an average of roughly 440 students per school. That works out to 37 elementary, 12 middle, and 8 high schools.
4-year change in Ouachita Parish
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
58
+1 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Ouachita Parish school rankings
Residents
158,480
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
59
6 districts
Enrollment
25,952
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$54,688
Below Louisiana avg
Free/reduced lunch
67.3%
Below Louisiana avg
Elementary
37
13,282 students
Middle
12
5,111 students
High
8
7,288 students
Combined / other
2
271 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ouachita Parish Public Schools
17,435 students · 6 districts in Ouachita Parish
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ouachita Parish residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
28.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
18.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.5%
civilian labor
Median age
37
24.6% under 18
Test scores in Ouachita Parish
Latest 2025-26 ELA proficiency, 42 schools ranked. Louisiana state average: 42.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- J.S. Clark Magnet Elementary School· 70.0%
- West Ridge Middle School· 69.0%
- Claiborne School· 66.0%
- Boley Elementary School· 64.0%
- Drew Elementary School· 64.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Ouachita Parish
About Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish is a medium-population Louisiana county of about 158,480 residents, home to 59 public schools and roughly 25,952 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $54,688, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 18%.
Looking at the level breakdown, Ouachita Parish covers 37 elementary schools (13,282 students), 12 middle schools (5,111), 8 high schools (7,288), and 2 combined or other schools.
Ouachita Parish Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 17,435 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 25,952 students, fell 3% from the 26,817 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Ouachita Parish gained 1 school, going from 57 to 58.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Ouachita Parish discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data