Summary:
The eight schools in zip code 70380 (Morgan City, LA) serve approximately 2,482 students from Pre-K through 12th grade across three parish districts, with a majority of schools facing high levels of economic disadvantage.
The standout school in the area is Stephensville Elementary School (St. Martin Parish), which achieves the highest academic scores despite having the highest poverty rate (97.92% Free/Reduced Lunch). It boasts a 5-star rating, 92% Math and 88% ELA proficiency, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (8.1%), and the smallest student-to-teacher ratio (7.3:1). Within the St. Mary Parish district, Wyandotte Elementary School is the top performer with a 4-star rating and 77% proficiency in both Math and ELA, while Julia B. Maitland School shows notable improvement, rising from the 43rd to the 59th percentile in state rankings. In contrast, Morgan City Junior High School is the lowest performer academically (47% Math, 60% ELA), and Morgan City High School has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (29.1%) despite a strong 87.5% graduation rate.
Key takeaways for parents include that poverty does not predict failure, as Stephensville Elementary proves that a small, well-resourced environment can drive exceptional results. There is a clear split within St. Mary Parish: its elementary schools (including Bayou Vista Elementary School) outperform district averages, but its middle and high schools struggle, suggesting a transition problem. Chronic absenteeism is strongly linked to lower achievement, making attendance a critical focus, especially at Morgan City High School. The two smallest schools—Stephensville and Bayou L'Ourse Primary School (Assumption Parish)—have the lowest student-to-teacher ratios, highlighting a potential advantage for smaller learning environments in this high-poverty area.
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