Claiborne School

Claiborne School is a PK-5 elementary school in West Monroe, LA, serving 643 students within the Ouachita Parish School District, a district ranked in the top 42% of Louisiana. Historically a top-5% school with a 5-star rating for seven consecutive years, Claiborne has recently seen a slight dip to a 4-star rating (87th-89th percentile), but it remains a high-performing institution that significantly outpaces both district and state averages in core subjects like Math (79% proficient), ELA (87%), and Social Studies (73%).

What truly sets Claiborne apart is its remarkable equity and low chronic absenteeism. The school achieves strong academic results across every student subgroup, ranking in the 82nd percentile or higher for all groups—a rare and powerful indicator that its educational model works for everyone. Additionally, its chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.7% is dramatically lower than the district average (18.5%) and nearby schools like Lenwil Elementary School (28.3%) and Riser Elementary School (22.7%), reflecting a strong culture of attendance and engagement. With 50.54% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, Claiborne’s performance rivals or exceeds schools with much lower poverty rates, such as George Welch Elementary School (35.43%), and vastly outperforms schools with similar economic challenges.

While Claiborne is an excellent choice, it faces strong competition from nearby Drew Elementary School, which has nearly identical test scores and a slightly lower chronic absenteeism rate (8.7%), and Boley Elementary School, a 5-star school that achieves similar results despite a much higher poverty rate (78.85%). One area for potential focus is Special Education, where Claiborne’s performance (70th percentile) lags behind its other subgroups. Overall, Claiborne remains a top-tier elementary school in West Monroe, offering consistent, high-quality education for a diverse student body.