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James Stephens Montessori School

Q: Is James Stephens Montessori School a good school?

James Stephens Montessori School ranks 443 rd of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

443^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Elementary Schools

Better than 36% of Louisiana elementary schools

Summary

James Stephens Montessori School in Ville Platte, LA, is a public PK-8 school serving 421 students within the Evangeline Parish district, and it presents a unique "tale of two schools" under one roof. While the upper grades (6-8) are exceptional—with 8th grade ELA at 100% proficiency and 8th grade math at 95% proficiency, far outpacing both district and state averages—the lower grades (3-5) are struggling significantly, with 4th grade math proficiency at just 29% compared to 68% district-wide. This stark contrast has contributed to a dramatic decline in the school's overall state ranking, dropping from the 79th percentile (4 stars) in 2022-2023 to the 36th percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026, its lowest point in over a decade.

Interestingly, the school's academic challenges are not driven by poor attendance or poverty. Chronic absenteeism at James Stephens is remarkably low at 11.0%, less than half the district rate (25.1%) and far below nearby Ville Platte Elementary (39.5%). Additionally, the school's poverty rate (85% free/reduced lunch) is lower than Ville Platte Elementary's (95%), yet James Stephens' lower grades are underperforming compared to other area schools like Mamou Elementary (57th percentile) and Bayou Chicot Elementary (55th percentile), suggesting internal instructional or curricular issues are at play, particularly in the lower grades.

The school's effectiveness with key student groups has also eroded. Low socio-economic status students now rank in the 1st percentile statewide, a steep fall from the 59th percentile just two years prior. This rapid decline makes James Stephens a high-priority intervention target for the district, as its recent trajectory is unsustainable. For parents, this school offers a mixed picture: a potentially excellent upper-grade experience built on a Montessori foundation, but significant concerns about the quality of instruction in the early elementary years that need to be addressed.

421

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,798

Per pupil spending ?

85%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1500 Martin Luther King
Ville Platte, LA 70586

(337) 363-4745

District: Evangeline Parish

Racial breakdown:

African American:

76.7%

White:

18.5%

Two or more races:

3.3%

See top rated Louisiana elementary schools

Compare James Stephens Montessori School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2016 → 36th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 54 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Evangeline Parish's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg60%

Louisiana avg62%

Elementary school

443^rd of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 54 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to bottom 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

89^th of 452

Louisiana public middle schools ?

Top 20%▼ down 16 pts since 2024

From top 4% (2024) to top 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 7Elementary Schools in the Evangeline Parish

46^th of 116Evangeline 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	39.6	443 of 690	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.7	358 of 666	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.6	248 of 675	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	78.7	150 of 730	79.5%	★★★★☆
2022	78.2	156 of 727	78.5%	★★★★☆
2021	68.8	231 of 729	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.0	233 of 731	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.7	224 of 728	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	75.4	175 of 739	76.3%	★★★★☆
2016	84.6	76 of 742	89.8%	★★★★☆
2015	85.9	70 of 792	91.2%	★★★★★
2014	89.8	32 of 777	95.9%	★★★★★
2013	87.0	53 of 772	93.1%	★★★★★
2012	77.0	162 of 764	78.8%	★★★★☆
2011	85.9	66 of 766	91.4%	★★★★★
2010	79.8	139 of 736	81.1%	★★★★☆
2009	54.3	386 of 738	47.7%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	38.1	359 of 548	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.7	318 of 501	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	67.2	143 of 509	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	79.6	89 of 570	84.4%	★★★★☆
2022	87.8	40 of 562	92.9%	★★★★★
2021	68.6	133 of 564	76.4%	★★★★☆
2019	71.5	128 of 559	77.1%	★★★★☆
2018	76.1	96 of 547	82.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	38.5	443 of 679	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.2	319 of 633	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.9	271 of 635	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.6	137 of 705	80.6%	★★★★☆
2022	77.4	149 of 701	78.7%	★★★★☆
2021	65.8	255 of 705	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.1	245 of 684	64.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	31.6	503 of 685	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	42.6	402 of 661	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.4	277 of 674	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.7	124 of 723	82.8%	★★★★☆
2022	80.5	102 of 724	85.9%	★★★★☆
2021	67.7	222 of 719	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.5	218 of 697	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.2	165 of 682	75.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	40.4	431 of 682	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.6	379 of 641	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	84.2	93 of 651	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	86.2	75 of 713	89.5%	★★★★☆
2022	80.6	129 of 712	81.9%	★★★★☆
2021	68.5	220 of 704	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.4	201 of 696	71.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2024	51.9	233 of 434	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	82.0	67 of 518	87.1%	★★★★☆
2022	74.7	113 of 517	78.1%	★★★★☆
2021	61.2	197 of 522	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.1	104 of 517	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	80.6	72 of 516	86.0%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	80.6	89 of 452	80.3%	★★★★☆
2025	79.7	92 of 447	79.4%	★★★★☆
2024	92.8	17 of 449	96.2%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	87.3	31 of 344	91.0%	★★★★★
2025	79.2	50 of 344	85.5%	★★★★☆
2024	93.3	16 of 333	95.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	71.5	118 of 434	72.8%	★★★★☆
2025	82.1	64 of 415	84.6%	★★★★☆
2024	89.2	33 of 415	92.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	79.8	76 of 450	83.1%	★★★★☆
2025	81.0	60 of 437	86.3%	★★★★☆
2024	95.6	14 of 444	96.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	85.6	57 of 435	86.9%	★★★★☆
2025	82.7	56 of 414	86.5%	★★★★☆
2024	89.8	25 of 426	94.1%	★★★★★

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)

Elementary school

White (2024)46th percentile-17 vs school

Male (2026)37th percentile~ school

Female (2026)35th percentile~ school

African American (2026)34th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)27th percentile-9 vs school

Middle school

African American (2026)91st percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)87th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)83rd percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)73rd percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts74%+4 vs state

Mathematics53%-9 vs state

Social Studies49%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near James Stephens Montessori 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
James Stephens Montessori School	Public	PK, KG-8	1500 Martin Luther King	Ville Platte	70586	Evangeline Parish	Evangeline Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 363-4745	421	37	11.3	85.0%	78 (18.5%)	323 (76.7%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.3%)	39.6	443^rd of 690 public elementary schools	35.8%		49.7	358^th of 666 public elementary schools	46.2%	85	39.0	29.0	32.0	80.0	70.0	95.0	53.0	55.0	74.0	56.0	95.0	77.0	100.0	74.0	33.0	40.0	36.0	75.0	58.0	67.0	49.0	$16,798
Ville Platte Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	708 High School Drive	Ville Platte	70586	Evangeline Parish	Evangeline Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 363-3068	319	33	9.8	95.0%	30 (9.4%)	274 (85.9%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.1%)	20	594^th of 690 public elementary schools	13.9%		23.8	537^th of 666 public elementary schools	19.4%	57	36.0		68.0				41.0	49.0	51.0					54.0		22.0	16.0				22.0	$20,059
Vidrine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	5094 Vidrine Road	Ville Platte	70586	Evangeline Parish	Evangeline Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 363-4280	359	28	12.8	66.9%	195 (54.3%)	138 (38.4%)	11 (3.1%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.3%)	59.2	306^th of 690 public elementary schools	55.7%		53.5	337^th of 666 public elementary schools	49.4%	31	69.0		69.0	66.0	30.0	68.0	63.0	73.0	79.0		71.0	50.0	76.0	70.0	52.0	54.0	47.0	50.0	36.0	62.0	50.0	$16,232
Mamou Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1205 Fourth Street	Mamou	70554	Evangeline Parish	Evangeline Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 468-3123	392	27	14.4	79.1%	201 (51.3%)	150 (38.3%)	15 (3.8%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.6%)	60.1	295^th of 690 public elementary schools	57.2%		72.7	193^rd of 666 public elementary schools	71.0%	102	64.0	84.0					75.0	64.0	78.0					71.0	42.0	56.0					50.0	$17,151
Chataignier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	5762 Vine Street	Chataignier	70524	Evangeline Parish	Evangeline Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 885-3173	375	26	14.2	85.3%	167 (44.5%)	187 (49.9%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.5%)	48.9	364^th of 690 public elementary schools	47.2%		50.6	355^th of 666 public elementary schools	46.7%	9	54.0		49.0	75.0		56.0	66.0	62.0	79.0	56.0	75.0	75.0	80.0	71.0	49.0	66.0	34.0	47.0	70.0	88.0	58.0	$15,663
Grand Prairie Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	669 Hwy. 363	Washington	70589	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 826-3391	264	19	13.6	75.0%	128 (48.5%)	123 (46.6%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.7%)	72.3	214^th of 690 public elementary schools	69.0%		87.1	77^th of 666 public elementary schools	88.4%	137	62.0	72.0					68.0	76.0	80.0					78.0	70.0	63.0					66.0	$14,355
Bayou Chicot Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	4576 Highway 167 North	Ville Platte	70586	Evangeline Parish	Evangeline Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 461-2687	661	42	15.6	62.5%	595 (90.0%)	41 (6.2%)	8 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.6%)	58.1	312^th of 690 public elementary schools	54.8%		62.6	274^th of 666 public elementary schools	58.9%	38	67.0			78.0		48.0	70.0	81.0	77.0		79.0	85.0	69.0	77.0	42.0	44.0	44.0	51.0	56.0	40.0	47.0	$14,569
Lawtell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1010 School Rd.	Lawtell	70550	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 543-2315	567	40	14.2	86.2%	128 (22.6%)	361 (63.7%)	58 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.4%)	19.9	595^th of 690 public elementary schools	13.8%		23.3	542^nd of 666 public elementary schools	18.6%	53	39.0	60.0	56.0	37.0	52.0	20.0	44.0	31.0	60.0	64.0	47.0	63.0	64.0	55.0	25.0	34.0	33.0	22.0	51.0	39.0	33.0	$13,473
East Elementary School	Public	K-4	550 Brother J. Rd.	Eunice	70535	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 457-2215	310	23	13.4	86.1%	129 (41.6%)	150 (48.4%)	15 (4.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.5%)	61.4	288^th of 690 public elementary schools	58.3%		75.9	164^th of 666 public elementary schools	75.4%	124	56.0	69.0					64.0	71.0	77.0					75.0		60.0					49.0	$19,659
Glendale Elementary School	Public	K-4	900 West Dean Street	Eunice	70535	St. Landry Parish	St. Landry Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 457-4121	259	18	14.4	87.6%	119 (45.9%)	111 (42.9%)	17 (6.6%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.9%)	19.7	597^th of 690 public elementary schools	13.5%		30.8	483^rd of 666 public elementary schools	27.5%	114	34.0	50.0					42.0	48.0	65.0					56.0	24.0	35.0					29.0	$15,114

Frequently Asked Questions about James Stephens Montessori School

How many students attend James Stephens Montessori School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 421 students attended James Stephens Montessori School.

Is James Stephens Montessori School a good school?

James Stephens Montessori School ranks 443^rd of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of James Stephens Montessori School?

Students at James Stephens Montessori School are 77% African American, 19% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

What district is James Stephens Montessori School in?

Evangeline 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.