By: Charli Stanley
With so many high schools in the Vernon and Beauregard parish area, schools have to work hard to stand out from the rest, and you have to work hard to find that information, all while adjusting to moving to a new area. Luckily, I’ve taken the time to scrape together the information, so you don’t have to. Here, we will be taking a look into Leesville High School.
Academics:
Leesville High School’s simulated performance score for last year was quite impressive at 97.7. This score is calculated using average grades and attendance rates. Their average ACT score is 23, showing students excel at standardized testing. With a 74 percent proficiency, and 48 percent of those students proving above proficient, your children are sure to receive a satisfactory education at LHS. Advanced placement classes are offered, with a 49 percent participation rate. Dual enrollment is also offered through Northwestern State University, including the opportunity for students to earn associate degrees before their high school graduation. Speaking of graduation, their graduation rate is also satisfactory, at 95 percent.
Extracurriculars:
When asking what extracurricular activities are offered, I thought the list would never end. They offer a wide variety that is sure to encourage your children to get involved. To list only a few, they offer: Art Club, Bible Club, Black History Club, Drama Club, Environmental Club, 4-H, JROTC Color Guard & Drill, Physical Fitness and Rifle team, Quiz Bowl, Spanish Club, Student Government, Yearbook, and much more! They also offer S.T.E.M. enrichment with their Cybersecurity and Computational Thinking classes, as well as an incoming robotics course.
Awards and Achievements:
As far as sports go, their powerlifting teams prove themselves at the competitive level, with the girl’s team winning 2nd place at state, and the boy’s team producing a state champion at the individual level. Their football team gets a taste of gold as well, having been the district 3-4A champions for 4 out of the last 6 years. LHS has had independent state champions on their track team as well. Leesville High was also ranked 31st in the state according to the list of best high schools by state by U.S. News.
Leesville High also participated in the Louisiana Forest Festival Woodsmen Skills Competition, resulting in many students bringing home first and second place in various categories such as rope climbing and match splitting.
Photo courtesy Lisa Haymon
Their true shining star achievement is the perseverance the school has shown as a whole through the trying times of the last few years. It was made abundantly obvious to myself that the faculty and staff at LHS are overwhelmingly proud of the resilience their students have shown, through the many trials they have been put through, as then principal Mark Mawae tells me here:
“Our students have seen their share of hardships during the last two years. From pandemics, hurricanes, tornados, ice storms, and quarantines, our students have shown perseverance through it all. They are true Wampus Cats. Unique and unlike any other. They stand out, they thrive, they dare to excel, for once a Wampus Cat, always a Wampus Cat, and I am so glad that I am a Wampus Cat.”
A school that acknowledges their students’ hard work and holds their well-being and education above all, Leesville High School has proven to be an ideal community for your children to thrive in.