N.S.U. Middle Lab School vs Natchitoches Jr. High School
N.S.U. Middle Lab School and Natchitoches Jr. High School are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.2 out of 10. Natchitoches Jr. High School is significantly larger with 374 students, about 2.2× the size of N.S.U. Middle Lab School (173). In math proficiency, N.S.U. Middle Lab School leads at 82.0%.
N.S.U. Middle Lab School
Natchitoches, LA
173 students
Natchitoches Jr. High School
Natchitoches, LA
374 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | N.S.U. Middle Lab School | Natchitoches Jr. High School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 8.9 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.8 | 9.9 |
| Growth Score | 9.4 | 8.3 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 38.7% | 95.5% |
| Environment Score | 8.1 | 8.4 |
| State Rank | #35 of 1,288 | #66 of 1,288 |
| State Percentile | 97th | 95th |
Test Scores
| Subject | N.S.U. Middle Lab School | Natchitoches Jr. High School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 82.0% | 42.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 82.0% | 61.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | N.S.U. Middle Lab School | Natchitoches Jr. High School |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Middle School | Middle School |
| Grades | 6th – 8th | 7th – 8th |
| Enrollment | 173 | 374 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 15.7:1 | 11.0:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 38.7% | 95.5% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 6.9% | 25.7% |
| District | Natchitoches Parish | Natchitoches Parish |
| City | Natchitoches | Natchitoches |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Natchitoches (71497) | Natchitoches (71457) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $2,499 | $47,410 |
| Median Home Value | — | $194,200 |
| Median Rent | — | $801 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 26.3% | 29.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 95.3% | 25.3% |
| Avg Commute | — | 20 min |
The data story: N.S.U. Middle Lab School vs Natchitoches Jr. High School
Natchitoches Jr. High School and N.S.U. Middle Lab School sit 2.1 miles apart in Natchitoches, Louisiana, but their statewide standings could not be further apart. Natchitoches Jr. High School ranks #5 of 1,288 schools in Louisiana with an overall rating of 9.7/10, while N.S.U. Middle Lab School ranks #75 of 1,288 with an 8.6/10 — a 1.1-point gap that places Natchitoches Jr. High among the top fraction of a percent of schools statewide. Both are strong performers in absolute terms, but the state rank context makes the separation meaningful.
The academic scores tell a close story — N.S.U. Middle Lab School earns a 9.8/10 versus Natchitoches Jr. High School's 9.9/10, a negligible delta — but the growth scores diverge more sharply. N.S.U. Middle Lab School scores 9.3/10 on growth while Natchitoches Jr. High School reaches 9.9/10, a 0.6-point difference suggesting that students at Natchitoches Jr. High are accelerating academically at a faster rate relative to expectations. For parents who prioritize year-over-year academic momentum alongside raw proficiency, that growth gap is the most consequential number in this comparison.
The two schools serve very different student populations. N.S.U. Middle Lab School enrolls 173 students with a free and reduced lunch rate of 39%, while Natchitoches Jr. High School enrolls 374 students with a 96% FRL rate — indicating it serves a substantially higher share of economically disadvantaged families. Despite that resource challenge, Natchitoches Jr. High outperforms on growth, which speaks to its instructional effectiveness. N.S.U. Middle Lab School's student-teacher ratio of 15.7:1 versus Natchitoches Jr. High School's 11.0:1 means Natchitoches Jr. High students get more individual teacher contact on average, a structural advantage in a larger school.
One practical structural difference: N.S.U. Middle Lab School serves grades 6 through 8, while Natchitoches Jr. High School serves only grades 7 and 8. Families with a rising sixth-grader must factor in where their child will spend that first middle school year — N.S.U. Middle Lab is the only option of the two that covers it.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
N.S.U. Middle Lab School
N.S.U. Middle Lab School fits families seeking a smaller, laboratory-school environment for sixth through eighth grade. With 173 students and a more economically mixed population at 39% FRL, it suits parents who want a tighter-knit campus feel and the intentional structure that university lab schools typically provide — especially for students entering sixth grade.
Natchitoches Jr. High School
Natchitoches Jr. High School fits families who prioritize top-tier statewide standing and exceptional student growth over classroom size. Ranked #5 in Louisiana with a 9.9/10 growth score and an 11.0:1 student-teacher ratio, it delivers elite academic momentum in a larger setting — and serves as the clear choice for seventh and eighth graders whose families want the highest-performing option in the city.