Best Public Schools in Violet, LA

The city of Violet, Louisiana, is home to a single elementary school, W. Smith Junior Elementary School, which serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade and is part of the St. Bernard Parish school district. With 333 students and a notably low student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1, the school provides an environment conducive to individualized attention, which is a significant advantage for families. The school serves a predominantly high-needs community, with nearly 89% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and faces a chronic absenteeism rate of 22.9%, slightly above the district and state averages.

Academically, W. Smith Junior Elementary shows a promising upward trend, improving its statewide ranking from the 31st percentile in 2024-2025 to the 41st percentile in 2025-2026, earning a 2-star rating. The school’s strongest subject is English Language Arts (ELA), where 67% of students are proficient, just 3 points behind the state average of 70%. Mathematics proficiency stands at 60%, also close to the state average of 62%. However, Social Studies is a clear challenge, with only 51% of students proficient, a 4-point gap from the state average. A grade-level breakdown reveals a dramatic anomaly in Social Studies: 3rd graders score only 36% proficient, while 4th graders jump to 58%, suggesting a strong 4th-grade teaching team or a curriculum shift that better aligns with state tests.

Despite high poverty levels, the school demonstrates resilience, with overall proficiency rates in ELA and Math relatively close to state benchmarks. The 5th grade shows strong literacy development, with 69% proficient in ELA, though a missing math score for that grade prevents a full assessment of student readiness for middle school. The 3rd grade presents a notable weakness in math (53% proficiency) compared to the school’s overall average. For parents, W. Smith Junior Elementary offers a supportive, low-ratio environment with clear strengths in reading and a need for targeted support in social studies, particularly in the early grades.