Duplessis Primary School

Duplessis Primary School in Gonzales, LA, serves 539 students from Pre-K through 5th grade and is part of the highly-rated Ascension Parish school district, which ranks in the 92nd percentile statewide.

While Duplessis is a solid performer, it sits in a neighborhood of academic powerhouses. Nearby schools like Bullion Primary, Prairieville Primary, and Oak Grove Primary all rank in the 96th-98th percentile statewide, creating a stark contrast. The school’s biggest challenge is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 15.0%—more than double the rate of these top-performing neighbors and dramatically higher than Bullion Primary’s 0.0% rate. This persistent issue is likely a major factor holding the school back from matching its peers’ academic success. In fact, Duplessis has a lower student-teacher ratio than G. W. Carver Primary School (12.6 vs. 10.9), yet only marginally outperforms it, suggesting that attendance, not resources, is the primary barrier to improvement.

Academically, Social Studies is a clear weak spot, with only 52% of students proficient—below both the state and district averages. This is driven by a dramatic "3rd grade slump," where just 34% of 3rd graders are proficient, compared to 63% district-wide. On a positive note, the school serves its African American students exceptionally well, ranking in the 80th percentile statewide. However, there is a concerning trend: while this subgroup has consistently earned 4-star ratings, White students have seen a sharp decline from the 79th percentile to the 35th percentile over two years, signaling a need to ensure all student groups are thriving equally.