Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 71269

This analysis examines two elementary schools in zip code 71269 (Rayville, LA): Rayville Elementary School and Holly Ridge Elementary School, both part of the Richland Parish school district, which serves a high-poverty area and is ranked 83rd out of 116 districts in Louisiana.

The standout school in this area is Holly Ridge Elementary School, which serves grades PK-8 and is ranked in the 53rd percentile (3 stars) statewide, placing it in the top half of all Louisiana elementary schools. Despite a high poverty rate of 75% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, Holly Ridge dramatically outperforms its local counterpart. For example, in "All Grades" Mathematics for 2025-2026, Holly Ridge scored 72% proficient compared to just 38% at Rayville Elementary School. In English Language Arts, the gap is similar: 71% versus 38%. Holly Ridge also benefits from a lower student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5, compared to Rayville's 18.3, which likely supports more individualized attention. In contrast, Rayville Elementary School (serving PK-5) is severely underperforming, ranking in the bottom 4th percentile (0 stars) with critically low proficiency rates, such as only 18% in 5th Grade Math and 4th Grade Social Studies.

A key takeaway is that poverty is not destiny: Holly Ridge proves high achievement is possible even in high-poverty settings, likely due to effective teaching and leadership. However, both schools struggle with chronic absenteeism, with Holly Ridge at 27.8% and Rayville at 25.4%, both above the state average of 22.5%. This suggests that while Holly Ridge overcomes attendance challenges to succeed, improving attendance could boost its performance further. For Rayville, high absenteeism is likely a major factor in its low scores. The data reveals a stark contrast in educational quality within the same zip code, with Holly Ridge showing consistent excellence and Rayville facing a crisis of performance.