James A. Herod Elementary School

James A. Herod Elementary School in Abbeville, LA, serves 285 students in grades 3 through 5 and is part of the highly-rated Vermilion Parish school district, though the school itself is struggling significantly compared to its neighbors.

Herod’s academic performance on state LEAP tests is dramatically lower than nearby schools. For example, in mathematics, only 49% of Herod students are proficient, while nearby schools like Seventh Ward Elementary and Leblanc Elementary achieve proficiency rates between 81% and 92%. The school’s state ranking has also declined, dropping from a 2-star rating to a 1-star rating in recent years. A major factor is chronic absenteeism: 33.8% of Herod students are chronically absent, which is much higher than the district average of 27.9% and more than double the rates at high-performing schools like Dozier Elementary (13.0%) and Cecil Picard Elementary (15.7%).

Interestingly, poverty alone does not explain these challenges. While about 90% of Herod’s students qualify for free or reduced lunch, other schools in the district with similar or higher poverty rates—such as Eaton Park Elementary (88.56% poverty) and Seventh Ward Elementary (73.62% poverty)—perform much better. This suggests that school culture, family engagement, and attendance are key areas needing improvement. On a positive note, Herod has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.1:1, which is lower than many of its high-performing neighbors, indicating the school has the staffing resources to provide more individualized attention if the core issues are addressed.