The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Brownfields Elementary School
Brownfields Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Baker, Louisiana, as part of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. The school sits in the northern part of the parish, and its Baker address places it in a small city that has been losing population over the past couple of decades. The community is a mostly residential, car-dependent suburb of Baton Rouge, with a predominantly African American population and a median household income below the national average. Housing values and rents in the surrounding zip code are also below state and national medians, suggesting the area is relatively affordable compared to much of Louisiana and the country as a whole.
Academically, the picture from the most recent state assessments is one of significant challenge. In reading and English language arts, about a third of tested students scored at the proficient level or above. In mathematics, the share was smaller, roughly one in six. Science and social studies proficiency rates fell between those two figures, around one in four. These results place the school’s overall proficiency index below the midpoint when compared with other districts across East Baton Rouge Parish. It is important to note that this is a single year of data for these tests, and the assessment changed slightly in social studies, so trend comparisons are not yet available. Parents may want to ask the school about specific supports in math and reading, as those are foundational subjects for elementary students.
The student body is small for a PK-05 school, and it is overwhelmingly composed of Black students, with small numbers of white, Hispanic, and Asian students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which is a common indicator of economic disadvantage. The school’s website and available data did not include information on the share of students with disabilities or those learning English, so a parent should inquire about how the school serves these populations. Participation on state tests was full, which is a positive sign that all students are included in the assessment process.
The community context adds important texture. Baker is a city that saw an influx of evacuees after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and its population has declined since 2020. The local economy is anchored by retail, health care, and manufacturing, but no single large employer dominates. The school is part of East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools, not the separate City of Baker School System that operates Baker High School, so families in this attendance zone are within a larger, parish-wide district. The district itself does not appear to have recently undertaken major policy changes or referendums that would directly affect this school, based on what was publicly available.
For a parent considering Brownfields Elementary, the key factors are clear: this is a school with low overall achievement on state tests, serving a high-poverty, predominantly Black student body in a small, declining suburb. The school’s strengths lie in its full testing participation and the fact that it offers a regular elementary program from pre-K through fifth grade. There is no data on course access, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism, so those are gaps a family would want to fill by visiting or contacting the school directly. The surrounding housing market is more affordable than much of the region, but the city’s population decline and limited commercial dynamism suggest that families looking for strong academic outcomes and a growing community may want to explore other options in the parish. For those rooted in Baker or seeking an affordable entry point into the East Baton Rouge Parish system, this school will require active engagement from parents to support student progress.
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