Emmett C.Gilbert School of Excellence at Ford

Emmett C. Gilbert School of Excellence at Ford in Avondale, LA, is a PK-8 school serving 769 students within the Jefferson Parish school district, where a high percentage of families (79%) qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school presents a fascinating "two schools" story. On one hand, overall academic proficiency in math (38%) and English (48%) is significantly below the district and state averages, and the school has received a 0-star rating for the past two years. On the other hand, students in advanced courses are thriving: 95% are proficient in Algebra I, and 68% in English I—rates that outpace the district and state. This is a stark contrast to nearby Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, which has a similar enrollment but a much lower poverty rate (54%) and a strong upward trajectory (3 stars). A key challenge at Gilbert is chronic absenteeism (27.9%), which is higher than the district average and far above Ochsner's 7.3% rate. However, there is a bright spot in 8th-grade English, where 62% of students are proficient—matching the district average and suggesting a strong program for that grade level.

While the school struggles to meet the needs of its most vulnerable students, with declining performance for low-income and special education subgroups, it does an excellent job keeping students enrolled, with a dropout rate (0.7%) far below the district (5.9%) and state (3.1%) averages. This retention is a solid foundation for improvement. The school outperforms its closest peer, Lucille Cherbonnier School, in nearly every subject, and the success of its advanced courses suggests that if the strategies used for those students can be expanded, Gilbert has the potential to turn around its overall performance.