The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Progress Elementary School
Progress Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Baton Rouge, part of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. The school is located in the northern part of the city, in an area with relatively low housing costs compared to state and national benchmarks. Baton Rouge itself is a consolidated city-parish that functions as the state capital, a university town anchored by Louisiana State University and Southern University, and a center for petrochemical, medical, and government employment. The city is largely car-dependent, with walkable pockets concentrated downtown and near the LSU campus, though the school’s immediate neighborhood sits away from those denser areas.
Progress Elementary is a small school by elementary standards, with a student body that is almost entirely Black and a very high share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The economic context of the school community is one of concentrated poverty, which often correlates with additional challenges and resource needs. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the source materials, so it is unclear what share of the population receives those services.
On the state’s LEAP 2025 assessments, administered in spring 2025, student performance was low across all tested subjects. The share of students scoring at the proficient level or above was roughly a fifth in English language arts, about an eighth in math, and even smaller shares in science and social studies. This pattern places the school’s overall proficiency index below the midpoint when compared with other elementary schools across East Baton Rouge Parish districts. Only one year of test data was available, so it is not possible to gauge whether performance is trending upward or downward. Participation rates on the assessments were near 100 percent, meaning the results reflect nearly the entire tested population.
Because Progress Elementary serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not have a magnet or charter designation based on the available data, and no information was provided about special programs, advanced coursework, or enrichment offerings. Likewise, data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, and course access were absent, leaving several important dimensions of school environment unmeasured. A parent evaluating this school may want to seek those details directly from the school or the district.
The housing market in the zip code where the school sits is among the more affordable in the Baton Rouge area, with home values well below the state average. Rents are also relatively modest, making this part of the parish a lower-cost option for families. The district’s strategic priorities or recent policy changes were not found in the research conducted for this profile, so no parent-relevant developments such as boundary adjustments, curriculum shifts, or bond measures could be included.
In sum, Progress Elementary is a small, high-poverty, racially homogeneous neighborhood school in Baton Rouge’s north side. Its academic results on state tests are low across the board, and there is no multi-year trend to indicate improvement. The school offers a regular public elementary program, with no evidence of specialized magnets or enrichment tracks. Families considering this school may wish to investigate the specific academic supports in place, the school’s approach to addressing the high level of economic disadvantage, and what programs beyond the core curriculum are available.
See more original research from School Decision →