Summary:
Zip code 70466 in Tickfaw, Louisiana, is home to two elementary schools—Midway Elementary School (serving grades PK-3) and Lucille Nesom Memorial (serving grades PK-8)—both part of the Tangipahoa Parish school district, which ranks in the bottom 21st percentile statewide.
Midway Elementary School stands out as the rising star in the area. Despite serving the youngest students and having a slightly higher poverty rate (86% free/reduced lunch) and larger class sizes (12:1 student-teacher ratio), it outperforms its counterpart in every core subject. Midway’s math proficiency is 50%, ELA is 61%, and social studies is 46%—all above the district average. Its state ranking has climbed from the 16th percentile to the 37th percentile over three years, earning a 2-star rating. In contrast, Lucille Nesom Memorial consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Louisiana elementary schools (0-star rating), with overall math proficiency at 38%, ELA at 54%, and social studies at 39%. However, Lucille Nesom shows surprising bright spots in upper grades: 7th graders outperform both district and state averages in math (54%) and social studies (71%), and 8th graders excel in social studies (60%) and ELA (65%).
The most critical shared challenge is chronic absenteeism, which is nearly double the state average of 22.5%—39.6% at Midway and 35.4% at Lucille Nesom. This likely drives lower test scores across both schools. While Midway’s year-over-year scores show volatility (math dropped from 63% to 50%, while ELA jumped from 51% to 61%), its upward trajectory is clear. For parents, Midway offers stronger early education, while Lucille Nesom provides a unique advantage for middle school students, particularly in 7th and 8th grade, where it rivals or exceeds district performance.
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