The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson School
Jefferson School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Jefferson, a suburban, unincorporated community on the East Bank of Jefferson Parish, just west of New Orleans. The school sits on Jefferson Highway, the area’s main commercial corridor, near the Ochsner Medical Center campus. The school serves a diverse student body, with a mix of Black, Hispanic, and White students and a substantial share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The most recent state testing data from the spring of 2025 shows that across the tested grades, proficiency rates in core subjects are low. In English language arts, roughly one in three students scored at the proficient level or above. In mathematics, about one in five students met that bar. In science and social studies, proficiency rates were lower still, each coming in at approximately one in five students. These results place the school among peer elementary and middle schools in the state where a majority of students are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how the school supports students who are below grade level.
The school’s test participation rates are very high, meaning the results reflect nearly the entire student body and not a selective sample. The current school year is the only year of data available, so there is no trend line to show whether performance is moving up or down. State testing is not administered in pre-kindergarten, which is the earliest grade the school serves, so the results apply only to grades three through eight.
Jefferson School serves children from a community that has experienced a long, steady population decline over several decades, though residents report that new shops and businesses are opening. Housing in the area is priced modestly compared to national benchmarks, with home values and rents that are moderate for the greater New Orleans region. The area is car-dependent, without a walkable downtown, and is separated from neighboring Metairie by a drainage canal, railroad tracks, and an expressway, with only a couple of public road crossings. Ochsner Medical Center is the largest employer and an institutional anchor.
At the district level, Jefferson Parish Public Schools has been undergoing significant restructuring. A school consolidation plan approved in 2023 involves closing some schools, merging programs, and redrawing attendance zones across both the East Bank and West Bank of the parish, driven by declining enrollment and aging facilities. Families have raised concerns about longer commutes and disruption; 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 to central office staff, transportation, and programs. On the positive side, the district adopted a new evidence-based reading curriculum starting in the 2023-2024 school year and received a federal grant to enhance STEM education with technology upgrades and teacher training.
Jefferson School does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access was not available in the records reviewed, nor were counts for students with individualized education plans or English learners. A parent considering this school would likely want to ask the school directly about its special education services, English language supports, and what programs are available to students who need extra help. Likewise, the school does not appear to offer magnet or charter status, and no Title I designation was reported in the available data, though the free and reduced-price lunch share suggests many families may qualify for federal school meal programs.
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