Best Public Schools in Houma, LA

The city of Houma, Louisiana, is served by 21 schools spanning pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, primarily within the Terrebonne Parish School District, with three schools in the Bayou Blue area belonging to the higher-ranked Lafourche Parish School District. The standout star is Mulberry Elementary School, a consistent 5-star school with exceptional test scores (93% ELA, 87% Math) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (11.5%). Other top performers include Dularge Elementary School, another 5-star school with 90% Math proficiency, and the Bayou Blue schools—Bayou Blue Upper Elementary School and Bayou Blue Middle School—which consistently outperform their Terrebonne counterparts, likely due to the stronger district framework.

Key metrics reveal a citywide average of 73% proficiency in elementary Math and 77% in ELA, but performance varies widely. Oaklawn Middle School struggles with a 1-star rating and low test scores (50% Math), while Terrebonne High School is a solid 3-star institution with an 85.9% graduation rate, far outperforming Ellender Memorial High School, which has a 2-star rating and a 75.8% graduation rate. Chronic absenteeism is a citywide concern at 26.1%, above the state average, with the highest rates at School for Exceptional Children (48%) and Ellender Memorial (41.4%).

An interesting finding is that high poverty does not dictate low performance. Grand Caillou Elementary School, with a 90.28% free/reduced lunch rate, is a 4-star school with 90% Math proficiency, and Dularge Elementary thrives despite 81% economic need. However, a "middle school slump" is evident, as no Terrebonne middle school exceeds a 3-star rating, while Bayou Blue Middle (Lafourche) achieves 4 stars. This suggests that district-level policies and school leadership play a critical role in overcoming challenges.