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J. Wallace James Elementary School

Q: Is J. Wallace James Elementary School a good school?

J. Wallace James Elementary School ranks 146 th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

146^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Elementary Schools

Better than 79% of Louisiana elementary schools

Summary

J. Wallace James Elementary School in Scott, LA, is a large, high-performing PK-5 school within the Lafayette Parish district, serving 957 students and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for five consecutive years.

This school stands out for its exceptional academic results and remarkably low chronic absenteeism. In the 2025-2026 school year, J. Wallace James achieved 81% proficiency in Math and 82% in English Language Arts, far exceeding state and district averages. This performance is a stark contrast to nearby schools like S.J. Montgomery Elementary School (44% Math, 47% ELA) and Alice N. Boucher Elementary School (47% Math, 51% ELA). Even more impressive is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.2%, compared to the district average of 24.0% and rates of 43.0% at J.W. Faulk Elementary School and 39.3% at Alice N. Boucher. This low absenteeism is a powerful sign of strong family engagement and a positive school culture that prioritizes daily attendance.

J. Wallace James also demonstrates effectiveness with a diverse student body, ranking in the 79th percentile for low socio-economic status students—a key differentiator from schools with similar poverty levels. While the school excels in Math and ELA, its Social Studies proficiency (64%) is a relative weakness, with 4th and 5th-grade scores falling below the district average. The school's student-teacher ratio of 20.1 is higher than many neighbors, yet it maintains high performance, highlighting instructional efficiency. Notably, the percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch has dropped from 63.9% to 51.1% over two years, signaling a demographic shift worth monitoring.

957

Students ?

20.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,280

Per pupil spending ?

51.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1500 W. Willow St.
Scott, LA 70583-5303

(337) 521-7700

District: Lafayette Parish

Racial breakdown:

African American:

50.5%

White:

42.0%

Hispanic:

4.2%

See top rated Louisiana elementary schools

Compare J. Wallace James Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 85th percentile in 2023 → 79th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Louisiana average (76% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 21% of Louisiana elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 85th-percentile peak (2023) to 79th (2026)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school76%

District avg68%

Louisiana avg62%

146^th of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Top 21%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From top 26% (2016) to top 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 23Elementary Schools in the Lafayette Parish

27^th of 116Lafayette Parish among Louisiana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	78.6	146 of 690	78.8%	★★★★☆
2025	77.1	158 of 666	76.3%	★★★★☆
2024	79.7	137 of 675	79.7%	★★★★☆
2023	82.7	109 of 730	85.1%	★★★★☆
2022	81.1	130 of 727	82.1%	★★★★☆
2021	68.3	237 of 729	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.8	283 of 731	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.9	245 of 728	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.0	252 of 739	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	74.5	192 of 742	74.1%	★★★★☆
2015	70.0	236 of 792	70.2%	★★★★☆
2014	71.1	225 of 777	71.0%	★★★★☆
2013	68.0	248 of 772	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	78.8	140 of 764	81.7%	★★★★☆
2011	70.3	251 of 766	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	75.6	192 of 736	73.9%	★★★★☆
2009	66.4	270 of 738	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.5	293 of 743	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.3	333 of 725	54.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	79.9	82 of 548	85.0%	★★★★☆
2025	78.9	66 of 501	86.8%	★★★★☆
2024	76.8	91 of 509	82.1%	★★★★☆
2023	78.0	96 of 570	83.2%	★★★★☆
2022	79.1	74 of 562	86.8%	★★★★☆
2021	67.8	140 of 564	75.2%	★★★★☆
2019	65.5	169 of 559	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.4	211 of 547	61.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2018	23.6	238 of 281	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	80.5	123 of 679	81.9%	★★★★☆
2025	73.9	159 of 633	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	79.3	126 of 635	80.2%	★★★★☆
2023	77.5	138 of 705	80.4%	★★★★☆
2022	78.8	134 of 701	80.9%	★★★★☆
2021	57.8	317 of 705	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.0	273 of 684	60.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	74.9	145 of 685	78.8%	★★★★☆
2025	72.4	167 of 661	74.7%	★★★★☆
2024	69.4	198 of 674	70.6%	★★★★☆
2023	76.1	137 of 723	81.1%	★★★★☆
2022	72.7	164 of 724	77.3%	★★★★☆
2021	57.2	314 of 719	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.3	356 of 697	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.4	341 of 682	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	72.5	199 of 682	70.8%	★★★★☆
2025	75.8	150 of 641	76.6%	★★★★☆
2024	75.6	158 of 651	75.7%	★★★★☆
2023	80.0	120 of 713	83.2%	★★★★☆
2022	81.1	125 of 712	82.4%	★★★★☆
2021	68.6	218 of 704	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.5	303 of 696	56.5%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2023	32.6	34 of 46	26.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.7	23 of 48	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.8	15 of 46	67.4%	★★★★☆
2018	72.7	11 of 44	75.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	62.3	118 of 361	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.4	90 of 241	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.4	109 of 208	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.4	114 of 296	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.5	71 of 307	76.9%	★★★★☆
2021	76.9	47 of 306	84.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	76.4	98 of 496	80.2%	★★★★☆
2025	68.8	120 of 431	72.2%	★★★★☆
2024	77.9	80 of 434	81.6%	★★★★☆
2023	82.0	66 of 518	87.3%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	99 of 517	80.9%	★★★★☆
2021	50.6	289 of 522	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.7	208 of 517	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.6	112 of 516	78.3%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2026)85th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)82nd percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)80th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)79th percentile~ school

Male (2026)71st percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2026)67th percentile-12 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)26th percentile-59 vs school

Disabled (2018)15th percentile-51 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts82%+12 vs state

Mathematics81%+19 vs state

Social Studies64%+9 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, October 27, 2015

This school is a wonderful example of how a caring faculty can bring children success! Close Quote

Schools Near J. Wallace James Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				LEAP Mathematics (2026)					LEAP English Language Arts (2026)							LEAP Social Studies (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	LEAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	LEAP Mathematics 4th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 5th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 6th Grade	LEAP Mathematics All Grades	LEAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts All Grades	LEAP Social Studies 3rd Grade	LEAP Social Studies 4th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 5th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 6th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 7th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 8th Grade	LEAP Social Studies All Grades	Total
J. Wallace James Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1500 W. Willow St.	Scott	70583	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 521-7700	957	48	20.1	51.1%	402 (42.0%)	483 (50.5%)	40 (4.2%)	14 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	16 (1.7%)	78.6	146^th of 690 public elementary schools	78.8%		77.1	158^th of 666 public elementary schools	76.3%	12	82.0		76.0		81.0	83.0	80.0					82.0	68.0	61.0	62.0				64.0	$13,280
Truman Early Childhood Education Center	Public	PK-K	1210 West Willow Street	Lafayette	70506	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	No	(337) 521-7810	331	26	12.9	79.2%	70 (21.1%)	208 (62.8%)	45 (13.6%)	7 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																				$18,200
Myrtle Place Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1100 Myrtle Place Boulevard	Lafayette	70506	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 521-7760	384	21	18.0	30.2%	284 (74.0%)	78 (20.3%)	8 (2.1%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.1%)	97.6	8^th of 690 public elementary schools	98.8%		94.6	20^th of 666 public elementary schools	97.0%	12		100.0	100.0		99.0			99.0							92.0					$15,327
Alice N. Boucher Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	400 Patterson Street	Lafayette	70501	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 521-7610	442	30	14.6	94.3%	15 (3.4%)	403 (91.2%)	17 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	22.8	570^th of 690 public elementary schools	17.4%		18.4	578^th of 666 public elementary schools	13.2%	8	50.0	42.0	50.0		47.0	45.0	45.0	64.0				51.0	36.0	20.0	46.0				34.0	$17,931
Willow Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	1818 Northeast Evangeline Thro	Lafayette	70501	Lafayette Parish	Willow Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 954-6377	605	18	34.4	98.2%	24 (4.0%)	550 (90.9%)	18 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60.4	292^nd of 690 public elementary schools	57.7%		51.8	348^th of 666 public elementary schools	47.7%	56	78.0	58.0		82.0	75.0	59.0	62.0	76.0	89.0	66.0	74.0	71.0	44.0	46.0	60.0	69.0	32.0	42.0	49.0	$15,944
Dr. Raphael A. Baranco Elementary School	Public	K-6	801 Mudd Ave.	Lafayette	70501	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 521-7500	247	27	9.2	93.1%	6 (2.4%)	224 (90.7%)	11 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.4%)	27.7	529^th of 690 public elementary schools	23.3%		30.3	488^th of 666 public elementary schools	26.7%	41	62.0	53.0	37.0		51.0	45.0	65.0	54.0				54.0	39.0	32.0	44.0				39.0	$16,857
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	600 Foreman Drive	Lafayette	70506	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 521-7750	663	45	14.5	75.6%	86 (13.0%)	383 (57.8%)	157 (23.7%)	9 (1.4%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.5%)	17.4	617^th of 690 public elementary schools	10.6%		21.6	556^th of 666 public elementary schools	16.5%	61	43.0	34.0	58.0		44.0	41.0	51.0	52.0				47.0	20.0	37.0	36.0				29.0	$17,228
J.W. Faulk Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	711 East Willow Street	Lafayette	70501	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 521-7680	424	30	14.3	94.3%	13 (3.1%)	384 (90.6%)	16 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.4%)	28.8	523^rd of 690 public elementary schools	24.2%		24.9	529^th of 666 public elementary schools	20.6%	6	47.0	76.0	39.0		54.0	42.0	62.0	61.0				55.0	26.0	42.0	41.0				36.0	$15,316
Live Oak Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3020 N University Ave	Lafayette	70507	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 521-7730	520	32	16.0	81.9%	73 (14.0%)	345 (66.3%)	91 (17.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.7%)	44.3	407^th of 690 public elementary schools	41.0%		33	475^th of 666 public elementary schools	28.7%	68	75.0		44.0		63.0	68.0	61.0	64.0				64.0	46.0	50.0	43.0				46.0	$15,383
L. Leo Judice Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5801 Cameron Street	Scott	70583	Lafayette Parish	Lafayette Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 521-7710	371	13	29.2	44.5%	254 (68.5%)	81 (21.8%)	8 (2.2%)	6 (1.6%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	18 (4.9%)	96.2	14^th of 690 public elementary schools	98.0%		94.4	23^rd of 666 public elementary schools	96.5%	9	88.0					92.0							85.0	91.0					91.0	$14,576

Frequently Asked Questions about J. Wallace James Elementary School

How many students attend J. Wallace James Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 957 students attended J. Wallace James Elementary School.

Is J. Wallace James Elementary School a good school?

J. Wallace James Elementary School ranks 146^th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is J. Wallace James Elementary School in?

Lafayette Parish

What is the racial makeup of J. Wallace James Elementary School?

Students at J. Wallace James Elementary School are 50% African American, 42% White, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Louisiana Dept of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.