The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Emmett C.gilbert School of Excellence at Ford
Emmett C. Gilbert School of Excellence at Ford, in Avondale, Louisiana, serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade as a regular public school within the Jefferson Parish Public School System. The school is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River, in a census-designated place that is largely residential with a rural-to-suburban texture, part of the New Orleans metropolitan area. Avondale's population has been declining for several decades, and the area is car-dependent, with schools and civic facilities distributed across the landscape rather than clustered in a traditional downtown. The broader Jefferson Parish school district has been navigating significant change, including a consolidation plan approved in 2023 that involves school closures, mergers, and redrawn attendance zones, alongside budget cuts for the 2024-2025 school year. The district has also adopted a new evidence-based reading curriculum and received a federal grant to enhance STEM education.
At Gilbert School of Excellence, state assessment data from the LEAP 2025 tests for the most recent school year shows the share of students scoring at proficient or above across tested subjects for grades three through eight. The performance levels are areas where a parent may want to look into this further with the school. In English language arts, about one in five students reached that benchmark. In math, it was a smaller share. Science and social studies each posted even lower proficient rates. Participation rates on these exams were very high, indicating near-universal student participation. The data represents a single year, so no trend in improvement or decline is available to observe.
The student body is large and diverse. The enrollment is substantial for its pre-K through eighth grade span. The racial and ethnic composition reflects a predominantly Black and Hispanic student population, with a sizable group of white students and smaller shares of Asian, multiracial, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. A strong majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. Separate data on students with disabilities and English learners was not provided in the available records.
The school itself is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. It does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. The school environment data, including discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance figures, was not available. This gap often reflects the nature of what is publicly reported for a given year, but a parent may want to inquire directly about class sizes, teacher stability, and what enrichment programs, such as art, music, or after-school activities, are offered.
The housing market in the area offers a moderate entry point relative to national benchmarks. Home values in the zip code are below the national median, and the typical rent is also lower. The estimated monthly cost of owning a home, factoring in a recent mortgage rate, is slightly below the typical rent, which is an unusual balance. The local unemployment rate aligns with the national figure, while median household income nationally has been trending up over the past few years.
For a family considering this school, the picture is of a large, diverse elementary and middle school serving a community with considerable economic needs and a district in the midst of structural reorganization. The state test results indicate that a majority of students are not yet meeting grade-level proficiency standards in any of the four core subjects tested, which is the central academic fact to weigh. The school is the only public pre-K through eighth option in the immediate area for most Avondale residents, with high school students later zoned to L.W. Higgins High School in nearby Marrero. The district's ongoing consolidation and budget cuts are likely to affect school operations and attendance boundaries in the coming years, making it important for a prospective resident to verify current zoning and any planned changes.
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