The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on J.c. Ellis School
J.C. Ellis School is a regular public school in Metairie serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the Jefferson Parish Public School System, a district that has been undergoing significant change. The school sits in a community that is a mix of residential and commercial areas, with Veterans Memorial Boulevard as a primary commercial corridor and a business district concentrated around Causeway Boulevard. Older sections like Old Metairie offer upscale housing tracts dating to the 1920s, while denser commercial zones like Fat City provide a variety of restaurants and retailers. The area is primarily suburban and car-oriented, though Old Metairie has more walkable blocks. Major employers include the training facilities and corporate headquarters of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans. Civic anchors include the East Bank Regional Library and the Bucktown Marsh Boardwalk on Lake Pontchartrain.
The school itself serves a student body that is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by white students, Black students, and Asian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material.
On state assessments, J.C. Ellis shows a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, roughly half of students scored at the proficient level or above, a result that is a relative strength for the school. In math, the share of students reaching proficiency was lower. Science and social studies results also fell below the ELA mark, with science the lowest of the four subjects tested. The school had very high participation rates on all assessments, meaning nearly every enrolled student took the tests. Because only one year of data was available, there is no trend to show whether performance is improving or declining.
The school serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, so there is no high school graduation rate to report. Families will need to consider where their child would attend high school within the Jefferson Parish system.
The housing market in the area reflects a mix of older and newer development. Home values in the zip code are above the state benchmark, and rents are moderate relative to national income levels. The area has seen its population peak and then stabilize over recent decades.
The Jefferson Parish district has been in a period of active restructuring. A school consolidation plan approved in 2023 involves closures and mergers of schools across both the East Bank and West Bank, along with redrawing of attendance zones. Parents have raised concerns about longer commutes and disruption, while the district says savings will be redirected to remaining schools. The School Board also approved budget cuts for the 2024-2025 school year, citing declining enrollment and state funding shortfalls, with reductions in central office staff, transportation services, and program eliminations. On the curriculum side, the district adopted a new evidence-based reading curriculum beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, aligned with a state-level reading initiative. The district also received a federal grant to enhance STEM education, with funds designated for technology upgrades, teacher training, and expanded STEM programs at multiple schools.
J.C. Ellis School sits within this larger district context. The school's academic results show a clear gap between ELA and other subjects. A parent considering this school may want to ask about how the school supports math and science learning, and how the district's consolidation and budget changes might affect the school's programs and attendance boundaries in the coming years. The school's diverse enrollment and its location in a mixed suburban-commercial area of Metairie give it a particular character that will suit some families more than others.
See more original research from School Decision →