The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Js Clark Leadership Academy
JS Clark Leadership Academy is a public charter school in Opelousas that serves kindergarten through twelfth grade on a single campus. It operates as a regular school under its own district, which means it has autonomy over its curriculum and operations while being publicly funded. The school draws from the Opelousas community, a small city that serves as the parish seat of St. Landry Parish and has a historic downtown core, a strong Creole and Acadian cultural heritage, and an economy anchored by agriculture, oil, manufacturing, and major employers like Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino and a Walmart distribution center. The city has seen population decline in recent years, and housing values in the area are well below both state and national benchmarks, reflecting a more affordable market.
The student body at JS Clark is overwhelmingly Black, with a very small number of students from other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a predominantly low-income population. Enrollment runs from kindergarten through high school, though the counts in the early elementary grades are noticeably small compared to the middle and high school grades, which suggests that many families may enter the school in later years or that enrollment builds as students progress. The school did not report data on students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent should inquire directly about how those populations are served.
The most detailed academic data comes from the state’s LEAP 2025 assessments in grades three through eight. On these tests, the school’s results fall well below typical levels seen statewide. In English language arts, just over a quarter of tested students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In math, the share was below ten percent. Science and social studies also showed single-digit or low-teens proficiency rates. These are soft spots that a parent would want to explore further with the school to understand what academic supports are in place, what instruction looks like day to day, and how the school is working to improve outcomes. The school has only one year of test data available for trend comparison, so it is not possible to see whether performance is improving or declining from prior years.
Because JS Clark is a charter school, its enrollment is by choice; families who live in Opelousas or nearby can apply. The school does not have a magnet designation or a stated specialized focus in the available data, and no program information was provided. This means a family considering JS Clark should ask directly about the curriculum, course offerings at the high school level, and any college or career preparation pathways. The school does not have a reported graduation rate in this data set, which is unusual for a school serving twelfth grade; a parent should verify that information from the school or state.
Opelousas itself offers a mix of civic and cultural anchors, including Le Vieux Village Heritage Park, the Creoles of Color Heritage Folklife Center, and the Yambilee Festival grounds. The city is auto-oriented, with Interstate 49 and U.S. highways passing through. For families considering this school, the local housing market is affordable relative to the state, and the broader St. Landry Parish area includes other school options, though JS Clark is one of only a few districts within the parish.
The bottom line: JS Clark Leadership Academy is a small, predominantly low-income, single-campus charter serving all grades from a declining small city. State test scores in the middle grades are significantly below typical levels, and a parent would want to investigate the school’s instructional approach, support services, and high school outcomes closely. The school’s charter status gives it some flexibility, but the data available does not show any distinctive program offerings or recent district changes. A family considering this school should visit, ask about academic interventions, and seek out the most current graduation and postsecondary data directly from the school or the Louisiana Department of Education.
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