Summary:
The three public schools in zip code 70577 (Port Barre, LA) form a complete K-12 pipeline within the St. Landry Parish school district, serving 1,067 students with an average free/reduced lunch rate of approximately 71%.
Port Barre Elementary School is the standout performer, earning a 4-star rating and exceeding both district and state averages in all core subjects (Math: 75%, ELA: 75%, Social Studies: 63%) despite having the highest poverty rate. In contrast, Port Barre High School shows a concerning decline, dropping from a 3-star to a 2-star rating, with the weakest academic performance and a critical chronic absenteeism rate of 42.2%—nearly double the state average. Port Barre Middle School presents a mixed picture, matching the state average in ELA (70%) but lagging in Math (62%) and Social Studies (46%).
A key finding is the "elementary paradox": the elementary school outperforms state averages despite high poverty, while the high school struggles with engagement despite a favorable 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio and a dropout rate (2.8%) better than the state average. Social Studies is a systemic weakness across all three schools, with the middle and high schools falling significantly behind state benchmarks. The data suggests a "leaky pipeline" where strong elementary performance fails to sustain through middle and high school, highlighting the need for improved transitions and student engagement strategies.
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