Best Public Schools in Cut Off, LA

The city of Cut Off, Louisiana, is served by two public schools—South Lafourche High School (grades 9-12) and Cut Off Elementary School (grades PK-5)—both part of the highly rated Lafourche Parish school district, which ranks in the 86th percentile statewide.

Both schools consistently outperform state averages in core academics, creating a strong educational pipeline from elementary through high school. South Lafourche High School stands out for its academic excellence, with 2025-2026 proficiency rates in Algebra I (82%) and English II (80%) far exceeding state norms, and a graduation rate of 91.1% that surpasses both the district (90.3%) and state (85.0%). Its state ranking has improved to the 74th percentile (4 stars). Cut Off Elementary School excels in building foundational math skills, achieving an 82% proficiency rate in mathematics across all grades—well above the district (76%) and state (62%) averages. This strong math foundation likely feeds directly into the high school’s success in Algebra I. Both schools serve a significant percentage of economically disadvantaged students (about 60-62% free/reduced lunch), yet they achieve above-average results, pointing to effective teaching and strong community support.

The most notable concern is chronic absenteeism, which is high at both schools—34.1% at the high school and 31.5% at the elementary school—compared to the district average of 24.6% and state average of 22.5%. This paradox, where present students perform well but many miss significant school days, is a key area for intervention. Subject-wise, math is a clear strength across both schools, while science (Biology at 64% proficiency) is a relative weakness at the high school. Social Studies showed a strong 9-point improvement in U.S. History from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026. The elementary school also benefits from a lower student-teacher ratio (14.3) compared to the high school (18.9), supporting foundational learning.