Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary schools in the 70802 zip code of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which serve grades PK-8 and are part of the East Baton Rouge Parish school district, an area with a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Belfair Montessori School is the standout performer, ranking in the 74th percentile statewide and achieving proficiency rates in math (81%) and English Language Arts (82%) that far exceed state averages, all while maintaining a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 6.5% and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1. CSAL Elementary is the second-best option, with solid proficiency rates (60% math, 73% ELA) but a very high student-teacher ratio of 32.3:1. Park Elementary School offers a mixed profile with a low student-teacher ratio of 8.3:1 and strong 5th and 6th grade ELA scores, but its overall rank is lower. McKinley Elementary and Capitol Elementary School are the lowest-performing schools in the area, ranking in the bottom 13th and 6th percentiles respectively, and both struggle with high chronic absenteeism rates above 27%.
A key takeaway is that student-teacher ratio does not predict success, as CSAL Elementary performs well despite the largest class sizes, while Park Elementary underperforms despite the smallest. Chronic absenteeism is a strong indicator of performance, with the top schools having the lowest rates. Social Studies is a universal weakness across all schools, with even Belfair Montessori only slightly exceeding the state average. While Belfair Montessori and CSAL Elementary have seen their state rankings decline in recent years, they remain the clear top choices for parents in this zip code.
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