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Riverside Elementary School

Q: Is Riverside Elementary School a good school?

Riverside Elementary School ranks 406 th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

406^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Elementary Schools

Better than 41% of Louisiana elementary schools

Summary

Riverside Elementary School in Simmesport, LA, is a small, rural PK-6 school serving 197 students within the Avoyelles Parish School District, and it has achieved a remarkable academic turnaround over the past decade, climbing from the bottom 10% of Louisiana elementary schools to the 41st percentile in the 2025-2026 school year.

Riverside’s standout strength is in English Language Arts (ELA), where 73% of students are proficient, outperforming both the district (64%) and state (70%) averages. This is especially notable in 4th grade, where 81% of students are proficient. The school also benefits from a low student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1, which is significantly smaller than nearby schools like Marksville Elementary School (20.5:1) and Cottonport Elementary (24.8:1). However, Riverside struggles in math and social studies, with only 54% proficiency in math (8 points below the state) and 40% in social studies (15 points below). A particular concern is a "5th grade slump" in math, where only 35% of students are proficient, compared to 61% statewide. Chronic absenteeism is a major challenge, with a rate of 32.9%—the highest among nearby schools and far above the state average of 22.5%.

For comparison, Palmetto Elementary School in St. Landry Parish, just 19.7 miles away, serves a similarly high-poverty community but outperforms Riverside in every subject (74% math, 81% ELA, 59% social studies) and has a much lower chronic absenteeism rate (19.4%). This contrast highlights that Riverside’s high absenteeism is a key area for improvement. While the school’s overall trajectory is positive, its performance with specific student groups has been volatile from year to year, suggesting that success is not yet evenly distributed. Riverside’s dramatic turnaround and strong ELA focus make it a school to watch, but addressing math gaps and absenteeism will be critical for continued growth.

197

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,158

Per pupil spending ?

92.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

549 Norwood Street
Simmesport, LA 71369

(318) 941-2699

District: Avoyelles Parish

Students who attend Riverside Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Avoyelles High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

64.0%

White:

31.0%

Two or more races:

4.6%

See top rated Louisiana elementary schools

Compare Riverside Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 7th percentile in 2016 → 41st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 34 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Louisiana average (56% vs 62% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (33% vs 22% Louisiana)

!Social Studies scores 15 pts below the Louisiana average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg53%

Louisiana avg62%

406^th of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 41%▲ up 34 pts since 2016

From bottom 7% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 6Elementary Schools in the Avoyelles Parish

68^th of 116Avoyelles Parish among Louisiana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	44.3	406 of 690	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	69.5	221 of 666	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.4	313 of 675	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.1	452 of 730	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.5	490 of 727	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.8	555 of 729	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.8	637 of 731	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	8.0	691 of 728	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	10.1	695 of 739	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	11.6	692 of 742	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	18.7	682 of 792	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	22.5	654 of 777	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	26.8	630 of 772	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	26.8	610 of 764	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	32.2	564 of 766	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	34.9	524 of 736	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	35.4	518 of 738	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.4	437 of 743	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	40.3	468 of 725	35.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	37.3	366 of 548	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	67.5	141 of 501	71.9%	★★★★☆
2024	54.2	224 of 509	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	38.4	363 of 570	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.4	378 of 562	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.6	474 of 564	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.1	510 of 559	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.8	518 of 547	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	45.1	396 of 679	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.8	271 of 633	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.3	297 of 635	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.2	513 of 705	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.0	561 of 701	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.3	589 of 705	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.2	648 of 684	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	41.0	431 of 685	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	70.3	191 of 661	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	61.2	268 of 674	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.5	454 of 723	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.1	488 of 724	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.7	543 of 719	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.9	605 of 697	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.4	629 of 682	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	48.4	364 of 682	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	65.0	240 of 641	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.5	261 of 651	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.6	403 of 713	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.8	338 of 712	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.3	553 of 704	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.5	518 of 696	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	87.7	32 of 496	93.5%	★★★★★
2023	35.5	386 of 518	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	48.9	294 of 517	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.0	406 of 522	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.1	477 of 517	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.9	465 of 516	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2026)94th percentile+52 vs school

Male (2026)47th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)42nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)37th percentile-4 vs school

African American (2026)33rd percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts73%+3 vs state

Mathematics54%-8 vs state

Social Studies40%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Riverside Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				LEAP Mathematics (2026)							LEAP English Language Arts (2026)							LEAP Social Studies (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	LEAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	LEAP Mathematics 4th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 5th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 6th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 7th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 8th Grade	LEAP Mathematics All Grades	LEAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts All Grades	LEAP Social Studies 3rd Grade	LEAP Social Studies 4th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 5th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 6th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 7th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 8th Grade	LEAP Social Studies All Grades	Total
Riverside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	549 Norwood Street	Simmesport	71369	Avoyelles Parish	Avoyelles Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 941-2699	197	16	12.2	92.4%	61 (31.0%)	126 (64.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.6%)	44.3	406^th of 690 public elementary schools	41.2%		69.5	221^st of 666 public elementary schools	66.8%	185	58.0	57.0	35.0	64.0			54.0	70.0	81.0	75.0	69.0			73.0	50.0	34.0	45.0	32.0			40.0	$21,158
Plaucheville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	Hwy 1181 - School Loop 50	Plaucheville	71362	Avoyelles Parish	Avoyelles Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 922-3311	582	29	20.1	82.1%	315 (54.1%)	224 (38.5%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.4%)	45.4	395^th of 690 public elementary schools	42.8%		37.5	437^th of 666 public elementary schools	34.4%	42	43.0	58.0	63.0	78.0			59.0	61.0	72.0	68.0	73.0			67.0	44.0	47.0	44.0	39.0			44.0	$17,011
Upper Pointe Coupee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	4739 LA Highway 419 West	Batchelor	70715	Pointe Coupee Parish	Pointe Coupee Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(225) 492-2555	241	19	13.0	73.4%	31 (12.9%)	144 (59.8%)	63 (26.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	42.6	419^th of 690 public elementary schools	39.3%		36.4	447^th of 666 public elementary schools	32.9%	28	57.0	79.0	48.0	39.0	57.0	20.0	53.0	50.0	84.0	71.0	84.0	61.0	80.0	71.0	28.0	47.0	49.0	23.0	51.0	53.0	44.0	$21,104
Cottonport Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	950 Lemoine Street	Cottonport	71327	Avoyelles Parish	Avoyelles Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 876-3404	255	10	24.8	89.0%	58 (22.7%)	174 (68.2%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.5%)	17.4	616^th of 690 public elementary schools	10.7%		17.4	588^th of 666 public elementary schools	11.7%	28	29.0	20.0	14.0	42.0			25.0	40.0	65.0	54.0	71.0			57.0	20.0	41.0	30.0	36.0			31.0	$14,738
Marksville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	430 West Waddil Street	Marksville	71351	Avoyelles Parish	Avoyelles Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 253-7464	625	30	20.5	87.7%	217 (34.7%)	334 (53.4%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (9.9%)	37.4	459^th of 690 public elementary schools	33.5%		31.8	478^th of 666 public elementary schools	28.2%	19	58.0	41.0	47.0	52.0			50.0	57.0	65.0	70.0	74.0			66.0	47.0	38.0	50.0	38.0			43.0	$16,015
Palmetto Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	235 Rideau Street	Palmetto	71358	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 623-4482	223	21	10.6	82.5%	62 (27.8%)	157 (70.4%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	73.7	199^th of 690 public elementary schools	71.2%		77.4	153^rd of 666 public elementary schools	77.0%	46	69.0		67.0	86.0			74.0	68.0	88.0	83.0	87.0			81.0	51.0	68.0	65.0	54.0			59.0	$16,310

Frequently Asked Questions about Riverside Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Riverside Elementary School?

Students at Riverside Elementary School are 64% African American, 31% White, 5% Two or more races.

Is Riverside Elementary School a good school?

Riverside Elementary School ranks 406^th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Riverside Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Riverside Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Avoyelles High School

How many students attend Riverside Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 197 students attended Riverside Elementary School.

What district is Riverside Elementary School in?

Avoyelles Parish

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Latest Louisiana data All new data »

2025–26 LEAP test scoresJul 6, 2026

2023–24 dropout ratesFeb 24, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataDec 1, 2025

2023–24 through 2024–25 graduation ratesNov 22, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Louisiana Dept of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.