Summary:
Zip code 71279 is home to a single school, Start Elementary School, which serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade in the Richland Parish school district, a 2-star rated district ranked 83rd out of 116 in Louisiana.
Start Elementary School has a total enrollment of 332 students and presents a clear academic profile. The school is a strong performer in English Language Arts (ELA), with 66% of all students proficient, outperforming the district average of 61%. This strength is especially notable in the 7th and 8th grades, where proficiency rates of 78% and 76% exceed both district and state averages. However, mathematics is a consistent area for improvement, with an overall proficiency of 47% that lags behind the state average of 62%. The school also excels in student retention, with a low dropout rate of just 1.7% compared to the district's 4.3% and the state's 3.1%, and a chronic absenteeism rate of 16.4% that is significantly lower than the district (21.1%) and state (22.5%) averages.
Despite nearly 60% of students being economically disadvantaged, Start Elementary School outperforms its district in ELA, Social Studies, and key non-academic metrics. The school's state ranking has improved over the past three years, moving from 434th to 487th out of a growing number of schools, indicating a positive trajectory. The data suggests a potential imbalance in instructional focus, with a very strong middle school literacy program but a need for significant support in middle school mathematics, particularly in 8th grade where math proficiency (38%) falls well below the state average (52%). Overall, the school appears stable and effectively supports its students, especially in literacy and student engagement.
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