Best Public Schools in Zip Code 70521

The three public schools in zip code 70521 (Cecilia, LA) form a complete educational pipeline from Pre-K through 12th grade, all part of the St. Martin Parish School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks 55th out of 116 districts in Louisiana.

Cecilia High School is the standout performer in this community, achieving a remarkable 93.6% graduation rate and a low 1.0% dropout rate despite facing significant economic challenges, with 68.75% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. The high school also excels in core subjects, with 78% of students proficient in English I and 67% in Algebra I, outperforming state averages. In contrast, Cecilia Junior High School struggles academically, particularly in Social Studies where only 39% of students were proficient, well below the state's 55%. However, the junior high showed an extraordinary 87% proficiency rate in Algebra I during the 2024-2025 school year, suggesting a specialized math program for advanced students. Cecilia Primary School serves the youngest students (PK-2) and has the highest poverty rate in the area at 91.16% free/reduced lunch eligibility, but maintains a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 20.5%.

The most critical issue across all schools is chronic absenteeism, with Cecilia High School at 30.9% and Cecilia Junior High at 27.0%, both exceeding state and district averages. This creates a puzzling dynamic where the high school achieves strong academic results despite high absenteeism, while the junior high's lower attendance likely contributes to its poor performance. The data suggests Cecilia High School may have effective support systems overcoming socioeconomic barriers, but the junior high's struggles raise concerns about the academic pipeline feeding into the high school.