Best Elementary Schools in Start, LA

Start, Louisiana is home to a single elementary school, Start Elementary School, which serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade with an enrollment of 332 students. The school is part of the Richland Parish school district, which ranks 83rd out of 116 districts in the state. While the school holds a 1-star state ranking and sits in the 29th percentile statewide, it shows a clear strength in English Language Arts (ELA), where 66% of students are proficient—outpacing the district average of 61%. This success is especially notable in the upper grades, with 7th and 8th graders achieving 78% and 76% proficiency, respectively. However, the school struggles in Mathematics (47% proficient) and Social Studies (46% proficient), both below state averages, with 3rd grade Social Studies being a particular challenge at just 29% proficiency.

Key metrics reveal a school with strong non-academic indicators that paint a more positive picture. The chronic absenteeism rate is a low 16.4%, significantly better than both the district (21.1%) and state (22.5%) averages, and the dropout rate is just 1.7%, far below the district's 4.3%. The student-teacher ratio is 16.4, and 59.64% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Despite these positive engagement metrics, the school's state ranking has been steadily declining over the past three years, dropping from the 36th percentile to the 29th percentile, suggesting that while its test scores remain stable, other schools are improving at a faster pace.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that Start Elementary offers a mixed academic profile with a notable strength in English Language Arts, particularly for older students, but faces challenges in math and social studies, especially in the early grades. The school's low absenteeism and dropout rates indicate a supportive and engaging environment, which is a significant advantage. While the school underperforms compared to the state overall, it is competitive within its district, outperforming Richland Parish in ELA and Social Studies. This suggests that Start Elementary is a relative bright spot locally, even as it works to reverse its declining state ranking and improve foundational instruction in the primary years.