The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in English language arts. The lowest is 1% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Southside Elementary School
Southside Elementary School is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in Lake Providence, the parish seat of East Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana. The school is part of the East Carroll Parish district and sits in a small, rural town that has experienced population decline and faces significant economic challenges. The town’s poverty rate is high, and the median household income is low. Housing in the area is very affordable, well below state and national benchmarks, reflecting the local economic realities. The community is predominantly African American, and the school’s enrollment reflects that, with all students identifying as Black. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Academically, Southside Elementary’s students take the Louisiana LEAP 2025 assessments in grades three through five. Proficiency rates are low across all tested subjects. In math, a modest share of students scored at the proficient or above level. English language arts showed a similar rate. Science and social studies proficiency rates were very low, with a tiny fraction of students reaching the proficient mark. The school had full participation on test day, but the overall performance suggests that the majority of students are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks. Only a single year of testing data is available, so it is not possible to see whether performance is improving or declining. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access were not available, which limits what can be said about the school environment beyond the test scores.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. No information was provided about special education or English learner populations, nor about any specific academic programs or supports. The district brief turned up no recent notable changes or initiatives to report.
For families considering this school, the main takeaway is that Southside Elementary serves a high-poverty, rural community with very low academic proficiency rates. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what interventions, supports, or curricula are in place. The lack of available data on discipline, staffing, and program offerings means that important aspects of the school’s daily operation are not captured here. The community itself is a small, tight-knit town with a strong sense of place, anchored by the oxbow lake and the Louisiana State Cotton Museum, but economic opportunities are limited. The school’s role as the elementary provider for the parish means it is a central part of local life, but the academic challenges are clear and should be weighed carefully by any family evaluating options.
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