Summary:
Zip code 71225 in Calhoun, Louisiana, is home to two elementary schools—Central Elementary School (grades 3-5) and Calhoun Elementary School (grades PK-2)—that form a seamless feeder pattern within the Ouachita Parish School District, which ranks in the 67th percentile statewide.
These two schools work as partners rather than competitors, with Calhoun Elementary building a strong early foundation and Central Elementary carrying that momentum into upper elementary grades. Calhoun Elementary stands out for its low student-teacher ratio of 17.6:1 and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.1%, both of which are better than the district and state averages—even though it serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (54.05% free/reduced lunch) compared to Central Elementary (49.77%). Central Elementary, the only school with standardized test data, shows notable strength in 5th grade English Language Arts, where 72% of students are proficient, nearly matching the state average. However, its state ranking has declined over three years, dropping from the 60th percentile to the 49th percentile, suggesting increased competition or a slight dip in relative performance.
A key takeaway is that Central Elementary appears to accelerate student growth between 3rd and 5th grade. In 3rd grade, proficiency rates in math (54%) and ELA (60%) fall below state averages, but by 5th grade, students close the gap or surpass state averages in both subjects. Social Studies remains a consistent weakness across all grades at Central Elementary, with only 55% proficiency—matching the state average but trailing the district. For parents, this area offers a well-coordinated educational pipeline where early attendance habits and small class sizes at Calhoun Elementary set the stage for strong academic catch-up and growth at Central Elementary.
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