Education

Empowering Minds: Education and Schools in Our Community

Education in central Louisiana is anchored by the Rapides Parish School District, which Niche ranks #7 among Louisiana school districts and grades A-. Strong magnet and Montessori options, several well-regarded private schools, and two four-year universities give physician families a full range of choices from pre-K through graduate study.

Rapides Parish School District

Source: Niche, U.S. News, National Center for Education Statistics.

Top-Rated Public Schools

The strongest public schools in the metro consistently include:

• Phoenix Magnet Elementary School, Alexandria, top-rated elementary in the parish
• Caroline Dormon Junior High School, Woodworth, top-rated junior high
• J.B. Nachman Elementary School, Alexandria
• Peabody Montessori Elementary School, Alexandria
• Rosenthal Montessori Elementary School, Alexandria
• Tioga Elementary, Tioga Junior High, and Tioga High School, in the suburban Tioga community
• Pineville Elementary, Pineville Junior High, and Pineville High School
• Alexandria Senior High School and Bolton High School (Alexandria’s two main public high schools)
• Peabody Magnet High School, Alexandria

Magnet and Specialized Programs

Rapides Parish operates one of the more developed magnet and Montessori programs in central Louisiana.

• Phoenix Magnet Elementary, academic magnet
• Peabody Magnet High School, performing and visual arts magnet
• Peabody Montessori Elementary, Montessori-method instruction
• Rosenthal Montessori Elementary, Montessori-method instruction
• Gifted programs across district elementary, middle, and high schools

Private Schools

The metro has multiple well-regarded private school options:

• Holy Savior Menard Catholic Central High School, Catholic college preparatory
• Grace Christian School, K-12 Christian school in Pineville
• Rapides Day School, independent school
• Saint Frances Cabrini School, Catholic elementary
• Saint Mary’s School, Catholic elementary in Alexandria
• Bayou Vista Christian Academy
• Several smaller Christian and Montessori options

Higher Education

Two four-year institutions and a regional community college serve the metro:

• Louisiana State University at Alexandria (LSUA), public four-year university with bachelor’s degrees in liberal arts, business, education, and health sciences
• Louisiana Christian University, Pineville, private Baptist-affiliated four-year university with undergraduate and graduate programs
• Central Louisiana Technical Community College, two-year and certificate programs
• Northwestern State University at Alexandria, satellite campus offering nursing and selected programs
• LSU Health Shreveport partners regionally for medical education and graduate health science training

Educational Programs Relevant to Physician Families

• AP coursework available across all four major public high schools
• Dual-enrollment programs partnering high schools with LSUA and Central Louisiana Technical Community College
• STEM programs in middle and high schools
• Strong band, choir, theater, and athletic programs across the district
• Robust JROTC programs at multiple high schools, reflecting the metro’s military heritage

Practical Notes for Relocating Families

Most physician families in the metro send children to either the magnet or Montessori programs in Alexandria, the suburban Tioga or Pineville schools, or one of the private school options (Holy Savior Menard, Grace Christian, or Rapides Day School). Schools in the southwest and suburban areas of the metro are consistently the highest-rated. Tioga schools in particular are sought after for their academics and extracurricular strength, and several physician families relocate specifically for access to the Tioga school feeder pattern.