Elementary Schools in St. Tammany Parish

The St. Tammany Parish school district in Louisiana is home to 28 elementary schools serving grades from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, a district ranked in the 84th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating, offering a mix of exceptional and struggling schools across a wide socioeconomic spectrum.

Standout schools in the area include Pontchartrain Elementary School, which leads the district with the highest test scores (88% proficient in Math, 84% in ELA, and 80% in Social Studies) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at just 6.4%, earning a 5-star rating in the 96th percentile. Similarly, Joseph B. Lancaster Elementary School and Mandeville Elementary School also achieve 5-star ratings with high proficiency rates and low absenteeism. In contrast, Alton Elementary School faces severe challenges, ranking in the 12th percentile with the lowest test scores (40% Math, 54% ELA) and the highest poverty rate at 85.58%. Other struggling schools like W.L. Abney Elementary and Florida Avenue Elementary School also show low scores and high chronic absenteeism rates above 27%.

Key findings reveal a strong link between socioeconomic factors and performance, as top schools have low free/reduced lunch rates (21-31%) while struggling schools have rates up to 86%. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue for low-performing schools, with Little Pearl Elementary School having the highest rate at 35.8%, while top schools stay below 9%. Notably, student-teacher ratios do not predict success, as Joseph B. Lancaster Elementary School has the highest ratio (16.2) yet excels, while Little Pearl Elementary School has the lowest ratio (8.0) but struggles with attendance. Additionally, K-8 schools like Lee Road Junior High School and Fifth Ward Junior High School perform well above district averages, suggesting this model can be effective.