Elementary Schools in Zachary Community School District

The Zachary Community School District operates three elementary schools serving 1,889 students across a unique "grade-level center" model: Northwestern Elementary School (Kindergarten only), Rollins Place Elementary (Grades 1-2), and Zachary Elementary School (Grades 3-4). The district is highly ranked, placing 10th out of 116 districts in Louisiana with a 5-star rating, and all three schools serve a similar majority of students from low-income households (between 63% and 68% free/reduced lunch).

When comparing the schools, Zachary Elementary School stands out as the academic leader, as it is the only school with standardized test scores. Its 4th graders achieve exceptional proficiency rates of 81% in both Math and English Language Arts, significantly outperforming the 3rd graders (67% Math, 58% ELA). The school's state ranking has been consistently high, peaking in the 79th percentile in 2023-2024. In contrast, Rollins Place Elementary boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at 6.8%, well below the state average of 22.5%, indicating a strong attendance culture. Northwestern Elementary School has the highest chronic absenteeism rate among the three at 13.5%, a notable red flag for Kindergarten, though still below the state average. All three schools maintain nearly identical student-teacher ratios, ranging from 13.0:1 to 13.7:1, reflecting a consistent investment in small class sizes.

A key takeaway is that the district's grade-level center model prevents direct comparison of academic growth across grades, as test scores are only available for 3rd and 4th graders at Zachary Elementary School. The data reveals a clear trend: chronic absenteeism is highest in Kindergarten (13.5%) and drops significantly in later grades, suggesting early intervention is critical. Additionally, while socioeconomic status is consistent across all schools, the dramatic performance gap between 3rd and 4th grades at Zachary Elementary—particularly the 3rd grade ELA proficiency rate of 58%, which is below the state average of 64%—points to either a challenging 3rd grade curriculum or a highly effective 4th grade teaching team. Overall, the district provides a strong foundation with small classes and high district rankings, but parents should note the unique school structure and the need to monitor attendance habits early.