Summary:
Zip code 70811 in Baton Rouge, LA, is home to two elementary schools serving grades PK-5 within the East Baton Rouge Parish school district, an area marked by high economic disadvantage where over 90% of students at both schools qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Brownfields Elementary School is the standout in this zip code, significantly outperforming Sharon Hills Elementary School in nearly every academic metric. Brownfields achieved a 46% proficiency rate in Math and 57% in ELA for the 2025-2026 school year, compared to Sharon Hills' 31% and 36%, respectively. Brownfields also boasts a chronic absenteeism rate of 22.5%, which matches the state average and is far better than the district average of 30.5%. In contrast, Sharon Hills faces severe challenges, including the highest poverty rate (93.9%), a chronic absenteeism rate of 43.2% (nearly double the state average), and a state ranking in the bottom 2% of all Louisiana schools. Interestingly, Sharon Hills has a better student-teacher ratio (9.6:1) than Brownfields (14.1:1), yet produces far worse outcomes, highlighting that smaller class sizes alone cannot overcome systemic issues like extreme poverty and high absenteeism.
A key takeaway is that both schools struggle significantly in Social Studies, with Brownfields' overall proficiency of 35% and Sharon Hills' alarming scores (only 10% of 3rd graders proficient) pointing to a major opportunity for targeted intervention. However, there are bright spots: 4th grade at both schools shows relative strength, with Brownfields' 4th graders scoring 60% in Math and Sharon Hills' 4th graders achieving 52% in ELA, their highest proficiency in any subject. Brownfields' history of earning a 4-star rating in 2023-2024 suggests potential for a rebound, despite recent volatility in its state ranking.
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