Summary:
The three public schools in zip code 70392 (Patterson, LA) serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade within the St. Mary Parish school district, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 55th percentile statewide.
For parents, the standout story is the dramatic turnaround at Patterson High School, which has jumped 69 spots in state rankings over three years to reach the 54th percentile, supported by a strong 92.7% graduation rate and a very low 1.3% dropout rate. However, this success comes with a puzzling paradox: the high school also has a staggering 39.4% chronic absenteeism rate, nearly double the district average. Meanwhile, Hattie A. Watts Elementary School is the consistent performer, with 75% of all students proficient in English Language Arts—outpacing both the district and state—and its 4th-grade class achieving an impressive 85% proficiency rate. Patterson Junior High School is the math and science powerhouse, posting a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra I End-of-Course exam, far exceeding state averages.
All three schools serve a high-needs population, with 76% to 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Student-teacher ratios are favorable across the board, ranging from 14.8:1 at the elementary school to 18:1 at the high school. A clear weakness is social studies, where proficiency rates at all schools fall below state averages. The junior high stands out as a hidden gem, quietly driving academic success with math scores 10 points above the state average, creating a strong feeder pattern that builds from the elementary school's ELA foundation to the high school's recent gains.
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