WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - The nine schools in the Baton Rouge area managed by the state-run Recovery School District have lost more than 850 students compared with a year ago, according to preliminary enrollment numbers.

The Advocate reports Istrouma High and Crestworth Middle suffered the biggest enrollment declines, 289 and 197 students respectively.

Istrouma High was run during the 2011-12 school year by the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. It was taken over last summer after Louisiana Department of Education officials decided it l was not showing improvement fast enough.

Crestworth Middle was managed last year by a charter school group connected to Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church. The group, after three years in control, handed the school back to the state with unpaid bills and a facility in disrepair.