St. James Parish

The St. James Parish school district in Louisiana serves 3,194 students across six public schools, including two elementary schools (PK-3), two middle schools (4-6), and two high schools (7-12), and is ranked 42nd out of 116 districts in the state, earning a 3-star rating.

For parents, the standout schools offer distinct strengths. St. James High School is the academic powerhouse, achieving the highest English Language Arts (78%) and Social Studies (67%) proficiency rates, along with the best graduation rate (92.7%) and lowest dropout rate (2.2%), despite having a high poverty rate (71.5% free/reduced lunch). In contrast, Lutcher High School is the consistent performer and the highest-ranked school in the district (71st percentile), leading in STEM subjects with top proficiency in Algebra I (72%), Geometry (68%), and Biology (77%). At the elementary level, Sixth Ward Elementary School stands out for having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (9.3%), far below the state average (22.5%), though it struggles academically, especially in Social Studies (42% proficient). Vacherie Elementary School has the highest economic need (79.67% free/reduced lunch) but shows strong ELA proficiency (76% in 2024-2025).

Key takeaways include a noticeable "middle school slump," with Gramercy Elementary School and Sixth Ward Elementary underperforming in 5th-grade Math (both 49%) compared to state averages. The district's graduation rate (89.5%) and chronic absenteeism (13.5%) both beat state averages, but economic diversity varies widely, from 49.78% free/reduced lunch at Lutcher High to 82.53% at Sixth Ward Elementary. Overall, St. James High defies odds by excelling despite high poverty and absenteeism, while Lutcher High specializes in STEM, giving parents clear options based on their child's academic needs.