The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Walter Schneckenburger Elem School
Walter Schneckenburger Elementary School is a regular public school in Kenner, Louisiana, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Jefferson Parish Public School System. The school is modest in size for an elementary campus serving that grade span, with a student body that reflects the broad diversity of its suburban New Orleans setting. Hispanic students form the largest share of the enrollment, followed by Black, White, and Asian students, and a substantial share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not provided in the available records, so those dimensions of support are not possible to characterize here.
State testing results from the 2024-25 LEAP assessments offer a single-year snapshot of academic performance. In English language arts, more than a third of tested students scored at the proficient level or above. In social studies, the share was similar. In math, the rate was lower, and in science it was lower still. These are the only year of results available, so there is no trend line to indicate whether performance is improving or declining. The school had full participation in state testing, which means the results reflect nearly all enrolled students in the tested grades. Across every subject, the proficiency rates sit below what many families might hope to see, and a parent considering this school may want to discuss directly with the school what academic interventions and supports are in place, particularly in math and science.
Kenner is a car-dependent city, the largest incorporated suburb of New Orleans, shaped by Interstate 10 and Williams Boulevard. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport lies within the city limits, along with a convention center, a casino, and a major hospital. The broader built environment is suburban, with residential subdivisions and commercial corridors. The Rivertown historic district offers a more walkable cultural anchor with museums and a planetarium, but daily life for most families revolves around driving. Housing values in the area run above the statewide typical home price, though still below the national benchmark. Rents have eased slightly. Kenner’s population has been declining modestly, and the city’s major redevelopment story centers on the largely vacant Esplanade Mall, where plans are underway to remake the site.
The Jefferson Parish Public School System, which operates this school, has been undergoing significant changes. Publicly reported, the school board approved a consolidation plan in 2023 that involves closing and merging schools across the parish and redrawing attendance zones. For the 2024-2025 school year, the board also approved budget cuts citing declining enrollment and state funding shortfalls. At the same time, the district has adopted a new evidence-based reading curriculum and received a federal grant to expand STEM education. These district-level shifts could affect everything from bus routes to program availability at Schneckenburger Elementary, and families should stay informed about how consolidation might reshape the school’s attendance boundaries and resource levels in the coming years.
For parents weighing this school, the picture is one of a diverse, mid-sized elementary in a suburban setting with academic results that lag behind state averages. The school serves a community that is economically mixed and racially varied, and the district is in a period of contraction and realignment. The lack of trend data and the missing information on special education and English learner support are gaps a prospective family would want to fill through direct inquiry. This is a school that may fit families who prioritize a neighborhood elementary close to home in a city with airport-adjacent employment and who are prepared to engage actively with the school and district about academic progress and upcoming changes.
See more original research from School Decision →