Tensas Parish

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

St. Joseph, Louisiana - 2 schools

An equity score of 83/100 ranks Tensas Parish #9 of 176 districts in Louisiana (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $23,098 per pupil, Tensas Parish ranks #13 of 188 Louisiana districts by per-pupil spending (Louisiana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

347
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$23,098
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Tensas Parish operates 2 public schools serving 347 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Louisiana. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Tensas Parish.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $23,098 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 19 of 188 Louisiana districts by per-pupil spending. See how Louisiana compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 37.8% local, 22.8% state, and 39.4% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 83/100, ranked #9 of 176 in Louisiana against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 150.5:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 18.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.4% African American, 8.6% White, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Tensas Elementary School, enrolling 154 students (51% of the district's total enrollment).

Tensas Elementary School accounts for 44.4% of all Tensas Parish student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Tensas Parish-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Tensas Parish reports 82.7% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is at least 75%, indicating a high concentration of measured economic need. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Tensas Parish student-counselor ratio is 151:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Tensas Parish chronic absenteeism rate is 18.7% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Tensas Parish is typically wider than the Tensas Parish-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

39.4%
Federal
22.8%
State
37.8%
Local

Funding Equity

83
Equity Score
9 / 176
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Tensas Parish.

White 8.6%
Hispanic or Latino 2.6%
African American 86.4%
Multiracial 2.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

150.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.7%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Tensas Parish

School Enrollment
Tensas Elementary School
154
Tensas High School
147

How Tensas Parish Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Louisiana districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Audubon Charter Gentilly Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Rosenwald Collegiate Academy Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
New Harmony High Institute Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Office of Juvenile Justice Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Rsd-Capitol Education Foundation Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Tensas Parish's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Louisiana

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Jefferson Parish
50,628 students · 82 schools · $14,155/pupil
Compare vs Tensas Parish →
East Baton Rouge Parish
43,253 students · 83 schools · $15,471/pupil
Compare vs Tensas Parish →
St. Tammany Parish
39,559 students · 55 schools · $14,823/pupil
Compare vs Tensas Parish →
Caddo Parish
36,147 students · 59 schools · $14,072/pupil
Compare vs Tensas Parish →
Lafayette Parish
32,377 students · 45 schools · $12,386/pupil
Compare vs Tensas Parish →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Tensas Parish

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Jefferson Parish →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Tensas Parish?

Tensas Parish has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 347 students.

How much does Tensas Parish spend per student?

Tensas Parish spends $23,098 per student. The district has an equity score of 83/100, ranking #9 in Louisiana.

What is the demographic composition of Tensas Parish?

Tensas Parish students are 86.4% African American, 8.6% White, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Tensas Parish?

Tensas Parish has an equity score of 83/100, ranking #9 out of 176 districts in Louisiana.