The Breakdown: Louisiana school performance improves for third straight year

LOUISIANA, USA — Statewide, Louisiana public schools improved for the third year in a row, scoring an 80 on a 150-point scale.

Several school systems in the New Orleans metropolitan area performed well:

• Plaquemines – A
• Jefferson Parish – B (improved from B)
• Lafourche – B
• St. Bernard Parish – B
• St. Charles Parish – B
• St. Tammany – B
• Terrebonne – B
• Washington – B
• St. James – B
• St. John – C
• Orleans – C
• Tangipahoa – C

In Orleans Parish, six schools received A rankings, including Edna Karr, which improved from a B last year.

• Edward Hynes Charter School - Lakeview
• Audubon Charter School
• Benjamin Franklin High School
• Edna Karr High School
• The Willow School
• Lake Forest Elementary Charter School

Jefferson Parish boasts 12 A-ranked schools, with Fisher Middle/High School and Kenner Discovery both improving from B grades in 2023.

• Fisher Middle/High – JP
• Haynes Academy – JP
• Metairie Academy – JP
• Riverdale – JP
• Patrick Taylor Science and Technology – JP
• Thomas Jefferson School – JP
• Gretna No. 2 Academy – JP
• Ray St. Pierre – JP
• Airline Park – JP
• Kenner Discovery – JP
• Ruppel Academie Francaise – JP
• Jefferson Virtual

St. Tammany Parish saw improvements as well, with Folsom Junior High, Madisonville Elementary, and Mandeville Elementary all moving up from B grades last year.

• Folsom Junior High School
• Madisonville Elementary School
• Madisonville Junior High School
• Mandeville Elementary School
• Mandeville High School
• Mandeville Junior High School
• Mandeville Middle
• Northshore High School
• Pontchartrain Elementary School
• Tchefuncte Middle School
• Fontainebleau High School
• Magnolia Trace Elementary School
• Lake Harbor Middle School
• L.P. Monteleone Junior High School
• Marigny Elementary School
• Lakeshore High School
• Joseph B. Lancaster Elementary School

Five schools in the New Orleans area ranked among the top 10 in the state, including Haynes Academy and Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy.

< TOP 10 performing schools:

1. Early College Academy (Lafayette Parish): 138.00
2. Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies (Jefferson Parish): 137.60
3. Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy (Jefferson Parish): 132.40
4. Caddo Parish Magnet High School (Caddo Parish): 130.70
5. Benjamin Franklin High School (Orleans Parish): 130.60
6. Baton Rouge Magnet High School (East Baton Rouge Parish): 128.00
7. Caddo Parish Middle Magnet School (Caddo Parish): 127.50
8. Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies (Jefferson Parish): 126.20
9. Louisiana School for Math Science & the Arts (Louisiana School for Math Science & the Arts): 125.30
10. The Willow School (Orleans Parish): 122.50 >

Three local schools were among the 10 most-improved over 2023. Young Audiences Charter High School made a remarkable leap from an F to a B, improving by more than 36 points.

10 most improved:

1. Young Audiences Charter High School (Jefferson Parish): Improvement Score of 36.40
2. Louisiana School for the Deaf (Special School District): Improvement Score of 27.40
3. McDonogh 35 Senior High School (Orleans Parish): Improvement Score of 27.00
4. Morehouse Magnet School (Morehouse Parish): Improvement Score of 20.10
5. BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City (East Baton Rouge Parish): Improvement Score of 19.30
6. Breaux Bridge Junior High School (St. Martin Parish): Improvement Score of 16.20
7. Pierre A. Capdau S.T.E.A.M School (Orleans Parish): Improvement Score of 16.10
8. Saline High School (Bienville Parish): Improvement Score of 15.30
9. Julia B. Maitland School (St. Mary Parish): Improvement Score of 15.00
10. Bolton High School (Rapides Parish): Improvement Score of 14.70 >

These ratings are based primarily on student test scores, with additional factors such as class offerings and graduation rates taken into account. According to our partners at Nola.com, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education plans to implement a tougher rating system in 2026, following a vote that determined the current standards are set too low.

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