Summary:
Zip code 70809 in Baton Rouge is home to two elementary schools, Jefferson Terrace Academy (serving PK-8) and Westminster Elementary School (serving PK-5), both part of the East Baton Rouge Parish school district.
Westminster Elementary stands out as the stronger and more consistent performer in this area. In the 2024-2025 school year, it achieved higher proficiency rates in both Mathematics (53%) and English Language Arts (52%) compared to Jefferson Terrace (30% and 42%, respectively). Westminster also matched the district average in Math and maintained a lower chronic absenteeism rate of 20.3%, which is well below the district average of 30.5% and a strong indicator of student engagement. While Jefferson Terrace serves a larger student body (571 students) and offers a broader grade range, it faces significant challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate of 29.9% and a notable weakness in Social Studies, where only 24% of students are proficient—less than half the district average. However, Jefferson Terrace showed promising improvement in its most recent 2025-2026 data, with Math proficiency jumping to 41% and ELA to 53%, suggesting recent interventions may be taking effect.
Both schools serve high-poverty populations, with free/reduced lunch rates of 78% at Jefferson Terrace and 84% at Westminster, yet their academic outcomes differ markedly. Westminster’s consistent, near-district-average performance despite high poverty rates points to effective school management, while Jefferson Terrace’s recent uptick makes it a school to watch for a potential turnaround. For parents, Westminster offers stability and stronger current academics, while Jefferson Terrace provides a wider grade span and signs of improvement, though it still lags in key areas like Social Studies.
Thank you for your feedback!