Best Public Schools in Zip Code 70549

The two public schools in zip code 70549, serving the Lake Arthur community within the Jefferson Davis Parish school district, offer a strong educational foundation with a combined enrollment of 806 students, though they present distinct strengths and challenges for families to consider.

Lake Arthur Elementary School (PK-6) stands out as the top performer in the area, consistently exceeding both district and state averages in core subjects. With 81% of students proficient in math and 76% in English Language Arts, it has earned a 4-star rating for two consecutive years. In contrast, Lake Arthur High School (7-12) shows a more mixed profile: it excels in mathematics (79% proficient) and boasts an impressive 93.3% graduation rate with a 0.0% dropout rate, but struggles with chronic absenteeism at 34.8%—significantly higher than the state average of 22.5%. This attendance issue likely contributes to the high school's below-average performance in English Language Arts (66% proficient) and particularly weak scores on end-of-course exams like English I (56%) and English II (47%).

Both schools share a notable strength in mathematics, suggesting a consistent instructional approach across the PK-12 pipeline, with each outperforming the state average by nearly 20 percentage points. However, families should note the significant gap in ELA performance between the elementary and high school levels, as well as the high school's specific challenges with upper-level English courses. Despite serving a population where over half of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the elementary school's strong academic results are particularly impressive. For parents, Lake Arthur Elementary School offers a clear academic advantage, while Lake Arthur High School provides strong math and graduation outcomes but requires attention to attendance and literacy support.