Summary:
The city of Edgard, Louisiana is home to two schools: West St. John Elementary School (K-7) and West St. John High School. Both schools serve a predominantly African American student population and face significant academic challenges, performing well below state and district averages on standardized tests.
While the schools have relatively low student-teacher ratios, this does not seem to be translating into higher academic performance. Both West St. John Elementary School (K-7) and West St. John High School have consistently ranked in the bottom half of Louisiana schools, with 2-star and 1-star ratings, respectively, from SchoolDigger. On the 2023-2024 LEAP assessments, the schools' proficiency rates in core subjects like mathematics, English language arts, and science were significantly lower than the state averages.
The high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at both schools, over 44% and 50% respectively, suggests that the schools serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, which may contribute to the academic challenges. Additionally, the lack of diversity in the student populations, with both schools having over 97% African American enrollment, raises questions about equity and access to educational opportunities for students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds in the St. John the Baptist Parish area. Addressing these systemic issues and implementing targeted interventions may be necessary to improve the educational landscape in Edgard, Louisiana.
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