Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools in the 70563 zip code of New Iberia, Louisiana, all serving grades PK through 6 within the Iberia Parish school district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the top 26% of Louisiana districts.
North Lewis Elementary School is the standout performer in this area, ranking 84th out of 690 schools statewide (88th percentile) and earning its own 4-star rating. It leads all three schools in academic proficiency, with 83% of students proficient in Math and 84% in English Language Arts—well above the state averages of 62% and 70%, respectively. North Lewis also boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 11.3%, compared to 22.0% at Daspit Road Elementary School and 12.3% at Belle Place Elementary School. Notably, North Lewis excels in Social Studies with a 72% proficiency rate, far exceeding the district average of 57% and the state average of 55%. In contrast, Daspit Road, the largest school with 503 students, has the highest poverty rate (78.33% free/reduced lunch) and the lowest state rank (314th), while Belle Place, the smallest school with 377 students, shows a slight downward trend in its state ranking over the past three years.
Key takeaways for parents include the strong inverse relationship between poverty levels and academic performance across these schools, with Daspit Road facing the greatest challenges. The student-teacher ratios are similar at North Lewis (13.7:1) and Belle Place (13.4:1), yet North Lewis significantly outperforms Belle Place, suggesting that factors like school culture and curriculum quality matter more than class size alone. Belle Place's declining rank (from 192nd to 231st) and missing all-grades ELA data for the latest year warrant attention, while Daspit Road's high chronic absenteeism rate—double that of its peers—is a critical area for improvement. Overall, North Lewis stands out as the top choice for academic excellence and attendance in this zip code.
Thank you for your feedback!