Best Public Schools in Zip Code 70085

Zip code 70085 in Saint Bernard, Louisiana, is home to two public schools within the St. Bernard Parish school district: J.F. Gauthier School (serving grades PK-5) and St. Bernard Middle School (serving grades 6-8). Both schools serve a student population where over two-thirds are economically disadvantaged, yet they consistently outperform state averages in core subjects like Math, English Language Arts, and Social Studies, indicating strong teaching and school leadership.

J.F. Gauthier School stands out as the stronger academic performer, particularly in mathematics where 76% of all students are proficient compared to the state average of 62%. The school has shown an upward trajectory in its state ranking, moving from the 51st percentile to the 65th percentile in the most recent year. Its 4th-grade class is exceptionally strong, with 87% proficiency in Math and 72% in Social Studies. In contrast, St. Bernard Middle School faces a significant challenge with chronic absenteeism at 29.0%, which is nearly 30% higher than the district and state averages. However, the middle school has a very low dropout rate of 0.8% and shows slow but steady improvement in its state ranking, moving from the 51st to the 60th percentile over three years.

Key differences between the two schools include enrollment size and student-teacher ratios. J.F. Gauthier School is larger with 500 students and a higher student-teacher ratio of 16.1:1, while St. Bernard Middle School has 319 students and a lower ratio of 12.5:1, suggesting smaller class sizes. Both schools outperform the state in Social Studies, with J.F. Gauthier at 60% and St. Bernard Middle at 58% against the state's 55%. The most notable finding is the dramatic increase in chronic absenteeism from elementary to middle school, a common but critical issue that likely impacts academic performance. Overall, families in this area can expect strong academic foundations at the elementary level, while middle school students benefit from smaller classes and a supportive environment that keeps them in school.