University Terrace Elementary School

University Terrace Elementary School is a public elementary school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, serving 153 students in grades 4-5. The school faces significant academic and socioeconomic challenges compared to its nearby counterparts.

University Terrace Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom half of Louisiana elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates on state assessments are significantly lower than the East Baton Rouge Parish and Louisiana state averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2022-2023, the school's proficiency rates were 40% in Math, 52% in English Language Arts, and 22% in Social Studies, compared to the state averages of 59%, 67%, and 49%, respectively. The school's student subgroup performance is also concerning, with the school ranking in the bottom half of Louisiana schools for most subgroups, including female students, male students, African American students, and students of low socioeconomic status. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, with 85.62% of students falling into this category.

In contrast, the nearby Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School, CSAL Elementary, and B.R. Foreign Language Acad. Immersion Magnet significantly outperform University Terrace Elementary in academic metrics, with much higher proficiency rates and statewide rankings. These schools also have lower percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a more socioeconomically diverse student population. The stark contrast in performance between University Terrace Elementary and the nearby magnet and charter schools highlights the potential impact of school choice and specialized educational programs on student success.