Summary:
The city of Belle Rose, Louisiana, is served by two public schools within the Assumption Parish school district, which holds a solid 3-star rating, though both local schools face significant challenges related to high poverty and chronic absenteeism.
Belle Rose Primary School (grades PK-4) has shown a remarkable turnaround, jumping from the 3rd to the 20th percentile in state rankings over the last three years, despite 89% of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and a 37% chronic absenteeism rate. Its low student-teacher ratio of 10.8:1 is a key asset, and 4th grade is a standout year where math proficiency (59%) and ELA proficiency (74%) meet or exceed district and state averages. In contrast, Belle Rose Middle School (grades 5-8) struggles with a critically high chronic absenteeism rate of 52.2%, yet it has improved its state ranking from the 13th to the 37th percentile. The middle school also boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 9.8:1 and a 0% dropout rate, but its 5th grade scores are alarmingly low (24% math, 18% ELA), followed by a dramatic rebound in 6th grade where ELA proficiency reaches 78%, exceeding both district and state averages.
The most striking takeaway is the severe absenteeism crisis, particularly at Belle Rose Middle School, which undermines the potential of their low student-teacher ratios. While both schools are improving relative to other struggling schools in Louisiana, they remain well below the Assumption Parish district average in most metrics, suggesting Belle Rose faces unique community challenges. For parents, Belle Rose Primary offers hope with its upward trajectory and strong 4th grade performance, while Belle Rose Middle shows that students who attend regularly can achieve impressive gains, especially by 6th grade, but the high absenteeism remains a critical barrier to consistent academic success.
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