Summary:
The two public schools in zip code 70342, serving the Berwick, Louisiana area, are Berwick High School (grades 9-12) and Berwick Elementary School (grades PK-5), both part of the St. Mary Parish school district.
Berwick Elementary School is the standout in this area, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 84th percentile of Louisiana elementary schools. It dramatically outperforms district and state averages in math (87% proficient), English (80%), and social studies (69%). This is especially impressive given that 62.86% of its students are economically disadvantaged, a higher rate than the high school. In contrast, Berwick High School is a solid, 3-star school ranking in the 63rd percentile. While it boasts a strong 91.8% graduation rate and excels in subjects like Biology (73% proficient), its overall academic performance is less remarkable. The most significant concern at the high school is a chronic absenteeism rate of 28.8%, which is far worse than the district (23.0%) and state (22.5%) averages and likely contributes to its lower ranking compared to the elementary school.
The key takeaway for parents is the clear performance gap between the two schools. Berwick Elementary School provides an exceptional foundation, defying socioeconomic challenges to achieve top-tier results. However, there appears to be a drop-off in academic performance by the time students reach Berwick High School, which, while effective at graduating students, struggles with chronic absenteeism and shows some year-to-year volatility in test scores. This suggests that while the elementary school is a clear strength of the community, the high school may have areas needing improvement to ensure all students are fully prepared for college or careers.
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