Schools in Edgard, LA

The city of Edgard, Louisiana, is served by two small public schools within the St. John the Baptist Parish school district: West St. John Elementary School (K-7) and West St. John High School, which together enroll just 374 students and serve a predominantly low-income community.

West St. John Elementary School stands out as the stronger academic performer, particularly in mathematics, where 59% of students are proficient—above the district average. The school shows a clear upward trend in its state ranking, moving from the 31st percentile to the 43rd percentile. Its 6th-grade math proficiency of 79% is a standout, outperforming both the district and state. However, the elementary school struggles with social studies, especially in 4th grade where only 22% of students are proficient, and it has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 21.3%. In contrast, West St. John High School presents a paradox: it excels in student engagement with a 92.1% graduation rate and a remarkably low 9.1% chronic absenteeism rate, both far better than district averages. Yet, its academic performance is mixed—it shines in U.S. History (61% proficient) but struggles significantly in math, with only 42% proficient in Algebra I and 31% in Geometry.

A key takeaway is the disconnect between the elementary school's strong math foundation and the high school's math struggles, suggesting a potential curriculum gap between the two levels. Both schools benefit from exceptionally low student-teacher ratios (under 8:1), but this alone hasn't translated into top-tier academic performance, highlighting the impact of other factors like curriculum quality and poverty. For parents, West St. John Elementary offers a rising academic trajectory with a focus on math, while West St. John High School provides a supportive environment that keeps students on track to graduate, even as it works to improve core academic skills.