Summary:
The 70094 zip code, covering Avondale, Westwego, and Bridge City in Jefferson Parish, contains eight schools that present a dramatic tale of two extremes, from some of the best schools in Louisiana to some of the most challenged.
Two schools are standout academic powerhouses. Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy (grades 6-12) has ranked in the top five high schools in the state for three years, achieving a #1 ranking in 2023-2024, with 100% proficiency in both Math and English Language Arts (ELA) and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.9%. Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies (PK-5) is equally impressive, ranking 6th out of 690 elementary schools in Louisiana with a 5-star rating for three consecutive years. In stark contrast, Strehle Community School (grades 8-12) ranks in the bottom 1% of high schools, with a critically low 20.4% graduation rate and a 73.6% chronic absenteeism rate—over three times the state average. Lucille Cherbonnier School and Isaac G Joseph Elementary School also struggle significantly with low test scores and high absenteeism.
Several interesting patterns emerge. Low chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with high performance, as seen at Patrick F. Taylor and Ray St. Pierre. However, socioeconomic status is not destiny: Emmett C. Gilbert School of Excellence at Ford has a 79% free/reduced lunch rate but still achieves strong results in advanced coursework, with 95% of 8th graders proficient in Algebra I. Similarly, Stella Worley Middle School shows pockets of success with an 83% proficiency rate in English I. Riverside Alternative High School, serving a highly at-risk population, has a 63.6% graduation rate—nearly three times the district average for alternative schools. Across nearly all schools, Social Studies proficiency is consistently the lowest subject area, indicating a systemic weakness.
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