Summary:
The city of Ponchatoula, Louisiana is home to 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. These schools serve a diverse student population and face some challenges, but also have areas of strength that stand out.
Among the standout schools is Champ Cooper Elementary School, which has the highest test scores across multiple subjects and grade levels compared to the Tangipahoa Parish district and state averages. For example, in 2024-2025, 82% of students were proficient or better in English I, significantly higher than the 54% district and 69% state averages. Another high-performing school is Ponchatoula Junior High School, which had 99% of students proficient or better in English I in both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, far exceeding district and state levels.
However, the schools in Ponchatoula face some challenges as well. The four-year graduation rate at Ponchatoula High School was 83.2% in 2022-2023, slightly below the state average. Additionally, all schools had a high chronic absenteeism rate of 24.6% in 2023-2024, significantly higher than the state average. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch ranged from 51.02% at Ponchatoula High School to 70.25% at Tucker Memorial Elementary School, indicating high levels of economic disadvantage among the student population.
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