Summary:
The six elementary schools in zip code 71106, serving grades Pre-K through 8, present a stark divide between nationally-ranked magnet schools and struggling neighborhood schools within the Caddo Parish district and the Recovery School District-LDE.
Three schools stand out as exceptional. South Highlands Elementary Magnet School is the top performer, ranking #3 in the state with 99% proficiency in both Math and ELA and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 1.2%. Fairfield Magnet School and Eden Gardens Fundamental Elementary School are nearly tied for second, both ranking in the 99th percentile with near-perfect test scores and very low absenteeism. In stark contrast, Linwood Public Charter School (1,092 students) and Atkins Technology Elementary School rank in the bottom 11th percentile. Atkins has a 49.1% chronic absenteeism rate, while Linwood shows a relative strength in ELA (56% proficient) compared to its Math scores (34%). The Eighty-First Street ECE Center is a unique case, serving only PK and Kindergarten with a tiny student-teacher ratio of 1.9, but it has the highest chronic absenteeism rate in the area at 55.3%.
The data reveals a strong correlation between poverty, attendance, and performance. The three top schools have free/reduced lunch rates between 11% and 19%, while the three struggling schools have rates between 77% and 94%. This suggests that socioeconomic factors are a primary driver of outcomes. Atkins, despite having a low student-teacher ratio of 9.7, still performs poorly, indicating challenges beyond class size. For parents, this zip code offers a choice between elite, high-performing magnet schools and schools facing significant challenges related to poverty and attendance.
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