Best Public Schools in Zip Code 70121

Zip code 70121 in Jefferson, Louisiana, is home to five schools serving approximately 2,830 students, including two elementary schools and three high schools, with no middle schools in the area.

For parents, the standout school is Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, a high-performing elementary school with a 3-star rating and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the area at just 7.3%. It significantly outperforms district and state averages in nearly every subject. In contrast, Jefferson School, the other elementary school in the same Jefferson Parish district, struggles with a 1-star rating and higher absenteeism, highlighting a stark performance gap within the same community. At the high school level, Riverdale High School is a stable, reliable option with a 3-star rating, an 88.9% graduation rate, and a very low 1.3% dropout rate, performing at or above district averages. Jefferson Virtual High School offers a unique alternative but has seen its ranking drop from the 89th to the 54th percentile in recent years. JCFA-East, operating as its own district, faces severe challenges with a 0-star rating, an 81.5% chronic absenteeism rate, and a 26.1% graduation rate.

Key takeaways for parents include the strong correlation between poverty levels and school performance, with schools like Dr. John Ochsner Academy (54% free/reduced lunch) and Riverdale High (59%) outperforming those with higher poverty rates like Jefferson School (73%) and JCFA-East (82%). Chronic absenteeism is a critical indicator of school health, directly linked to lower test scores and graduation rates. Overall, while the area offers a high-performing elementary option and a stable high school, families should carefully consider the significant disparities in performance and support services when choosing a school.