The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 34% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Allen Ellender School
Allen Ellender School, a regular public school in Marrero serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, is a large elementary and middle school within the Jefferson Parish Public School System. The school is situated in a densely populated, car-dependent suburban community on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, part of the greater New Orleans metropolitan area. The student body is diverse, with a composition that includes a substantial share of white students, alongside significant numbers of Black and Hispanic students, and smaller populations of Asian and multiracial students. A substantial majority of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a community with a range of economic circumstances.
The school’s academic performance, as measured by the Louisiana LEAP 2025 assessments for grades three through eight, shows a mixed picture. In English language arts, about two out of every five students scored proficient or above. In math, science, and social studies, roughly one out of every three students reached that same benchmark. These results point to a school where many students are meeting grade-level expectations in reading, while a larger share is struggling in math and the other core subjects. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how instruction and intervention are targeted for the students who are not yet at the proficient level. The data available covers only one school year, so it is not possible to see a trend in performance.
Because the school serves only up to eighth grade, there is no graduation rate or high school course access data to report. The school’s environment and support structures, such as discipline practices, chronic absenteeism, and staffing levels, are not available in the data provided, leaving a gap for families interested in those dimensions of school life.
The housing market in Marrero shows home values and rents that are above the national median, with home values that have been rising notably. Rents have also increased, and the estimated cost of renting is moderately higher than a mortgage payment for a median-priced home, a typical dynamic in many markets. The area has experienced a gradual population decline, but it remains a densely built suburban landscape with a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Major employment drivers include the health care sector and retail, with many residents commuting by car to jobs in the broader New Orleans area. A notable civic anchor is the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve, providing extensive natural trails and bayous.
For parents considering this school, the district context matters. Jefferson Parish Public Schools has been undergoing a significant consolidation plan approved in 2023, involving school closures, mergers, and redrawn attendance zones in response to declining enrollment and aging facilities. This has prompted concerns among some families about longer commutes and disruption. The district also approved budget cuts for a recent school year, reducing central office staff and transportation. On the positive side, the district adopted a new evidence-based reading curriculum and received a federal grant aimed at expanding STEM programs, both of which could trickle down to Allen Ellender.
In summary, Allen Ellender School is a large, diverse, pre-K-through-8 school in a suburban, car-dependent community with a notable share of students from lower-income households. Its state test results show a school where reading proficiency is moderate and other subjects are weaker. The broader district is in a period of fiscal tightening and consolidation, which may affect school resources and attendance boundaries. The school fits families who value a diverse student body and a full elementary-to-middle-grade span in one location, and who are prepared to engage with the school about academic support for the subjects where proficiency is lower.
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