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Excellent

#12 of 253 private schools in LA

Top 4% of private schools

Tensas Academy

School

418 HWY 128, Saint Joseph, LA 71366

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on LA statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

128

Student-Teacher

5.9:1

Score

8.4

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Louisiana schools

#4 of 83

About Tensas Academy

Tensas Academy is a regular public school located in the remote rural community of Saint Joseph, Louisiana. Serving students from preschool through 12th grade, Tensas Academy offers a unique educational experience with an enrollment of just 128 students and a student-teacher ratio of 5.9:1. With 22 full-time equivalent teachers on staff, the school provides personalized attention to each student.

Tensas Academy has received a MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and is ranked 45th out of 253 schools in Louisiana. While detailed test score data is not available, the school focuses on fostering strong community ties and individualized learning programs to support student development. Located in a remote rural setting, Tensas Academy benefits from a close-knit community where relationships between students, teachers, and families are deep and enduring.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 128 students, Tensas Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.9:1, Tensas Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Tensas Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$6,005
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$11,234
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.87x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
44%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$1.4M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 128 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in LA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.9:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 8.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,296
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 6.8 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 27%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 128
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in LA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 85.2%
Hispanic 9.4%
Black 3.1%
Asian 1.6%
Two or More 0.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

418 HWY 128, Saint Joseph, LA 71366

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Tensas Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. Delta Charter School MST (rated 5.8/10, 26.9 miles away, in nearby Ferriday), a more accessible option. Additionally, Sicily Island High School (rated 4.3/10, 24.7 miles away, in nearby Sicily Island), a more accessible option. For more schools in Saint Joseph, see our Saint Joseph schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 26.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Tensas High School St. Joseph 0.7 mi 7.8
Tensas Elementary School St. Joseph 0.8 mi 7.8
A. W. WATSON ELEMENTARY Port Gibson 15.2 mi 5.7
PORT GIBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Port Gibson 15.2 mi 4.4
JEFFERSON CO HIGH Fayette 18.1 mi 8.0
JEFFERSON CO ELEM SCHOOL Fayette 18.9 mi 3.8
PORT GIBSON HIGH SCHOOL Port Gibson 17.7 mi 5.1
MORGANTOWN ELEMENTARY Natchez 25.4 mi 8.3
NATCHEZ HIGH SCHOOL Natchez 27.0 mi 5.2
NATCHEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL Natchez 27.1 mi 6.0
HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY Natchez 27.2 mi
Vidalia Lower Elementary School Vidalia 27.0 mi 5.8
Vidalia Upper Elementary School Vidalia 27.3 mi 7.8
MC LAURIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Natchez 27.9 mi 4.6
Vidalia High School Vidalia 27.4 mi 3.3
Vidalia Junior High School Vidalia 27.7 mi 8.2
Sicily Island High School Sicily Island 24.7 mi 4.3
Ferriday Lower Elementary School Ferriday 26.8 mi 6.9
Ferriday High School Ferriday 27.1 mi 6.1
Delta Charter School MST Ferriday 26.9 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 71366 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$46,806

Median Home Value

$103,300

Median Rent

$725/mo

Population

1,454

College Educated

17.1%

Homeownership

71.2%

Poverty Rate

21.7%

Median Age

47

Community Profile

The community surrounding Tensas Academy has a median household income of $46,806. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $103,300, with a median rent of $725/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
South Cameron High School Grand Chenier, LA 8.4
RIDGEWOOD PREPARATORY SCHOOL Metairie, LA 8.3
Gibsland-Coleman High School Gibsland, LA 8.0
ST MICHAEL SPECIAL SCHOOL New Orleans, LA 7.9
LAKESIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Slidell, LA 7.8
MT OLIVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Athens, LA 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Tensas Academy

What grades does Tensas Academy serve?

Tensas Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Tensas Academy?

Tensas Academy has an enrollment of approximately 128 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Tensas Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Tensas Academy is 5.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Tensas Academy rank in LA?

Tensas Academy is ranked #12 out of 253 private schools in LA.

What is Tensas Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Tensas Academy has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Tensas Academy a private school?

Yes, Tensas Academy is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Tensas Academy a religious school?

No, Tensas Academy is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
6 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
43 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
128
Gender Split
61% M / 39% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Remote Rural
County
TENSAS
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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