Livaudais Middle School

Livaudais Middle School in Terrytown, LA, serves 743 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Jefferson Parish school district, which ranks in the bottom half of Louisiana districts.

While the school's overall academic performance is below average—with only 33% of students proficient in Math and 51% in English Language Arts—it has a standout strength: students who take high school-level courses achieve exceptional results. For example, 100% of students passed the English I End-of-Course exam, and 95% passed Algebra I, far exceeding district and state averages. This "advanced course paradox" suggests the school excels at preparing a select group of students for challenging work, even as the broader student body struggles. In contrast, nearby Belle Chasse Middle School (Plaquemines Parish) and N.P. Trist Middle School (St. Bernard Parish) achieve proficiency rates roughly double those of Livaudais, highlighting significant disparities in educational outcomes within a short geographic radius.

Chronic absenteeism is a growing concern, rising from a remarkably low 5.5% during the pandemic to 26.1% in 2024-2025, now above the state average. This trend may be a key factor in the school's low test scores. On a positive note, the school's dropout rate (3.2%) is on par with the state average and better than the Jefferson Parish district average (5.9%), indicating that most students stay enrolled. The school shows relative strength in serving its African American students, who rank in the 31st percentile statewide, but faces challenges with Hispanic and English Language Learner students, who rank in the 9th and 4th percentiles, respectively. For parents, Livaudais offers a unique mix of a strong advanced program and overall academic struggles, making it important to investigate how the school supports different student groups.