The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Rise Charter School
Jefferson RISE Charter School sits in Harvey, a census-designated place on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, about four miles from the Crescent City Connection that leads into New Orleans. The school serves grades six through twelve under the Jefferson Parish Public School System, operating as a charter school. Harvey itself blends residential neighborhoods with industrial and commercial corridors, anchored by the Harvey Canal, which still supports oil-and-gas shipping. The area has a quiet suburban character, and housing costs are below those of New Orleans proper.
The school enrolls roughly seven hundred students. Well over half of the student body is Black, about a quarter is White, and the remainder are Hispanic or other races. A substantial share of students, in the vicinity of four-fifths, qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a largely low-income population. Data on special education and English-learner students was not reported, so a family with a child receiving those services may want to ask the school directly about available supports.
On the state’s LEAP assessments, proficiency rates across tested subjects were modest. In English language arts, about a quarter of students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In math, the rate was lower, with roughly one in seven students meeting that bar. Science and social studies produced similar results, each around one in six students proficient. These figures represent a single school year, and no trend data are available to show gains or declines over time. The school’s participation rate was reported as high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students in the tested grade bands.
Because Jefferson RISE covers high school grades, a graduation rate would normally be available, but it was not reported in the data we reviewed. Parents considering the school may want to follow up with the administration about four-year graduation rates, college-going rates, and any career or dual-enrollment pathways offered. Also absent from the available information were records on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access, including Advanced Placement or other advanced coursework.
In the broader district context, Jefferson Parish Public School System has been undergoing significant change. A school consolidation plan approved in 2023 has led to closures and attendance-zone redrawing across both the East Bank and West Bank, with some families facing longer commutes. Budget cuts approved for the 2024-2025 school year trimmed central office staff, transportation, and programs. The district adopted a new evidence-based reading curriculum starting in the 2023-2024 school year, and it received a federal grant for STEM education. Because Jefferson RISE is a charter, it may have some operational independence from these district-wide shifts, but the overall environment in the parish is one of contraction and reallocation.
Housing in the Harvey area reflects a market that has seen notable appreciation in recent years, though it remains more affordable than New Orleans proper. A typical rent in the area is moderate compared with national benchmarks. The local economy includes public-sector institutions such as the Jefferson Parish Public School System headquarters and the parish sheriff’s office, alongside industrial activity tied to the canal. The Jane O'Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library serves as a civic anchor. Harvey saw population growth between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, and as of recent estimates the growth has continued modestly.
Jefferson RISE Charter School presents an option for families in Harvey and the West Bank who are looking for a charter school serving middle and high school in one location. The academic proficiency results are low relative to state averages, and the data gaps on graduation, discipline, and program offerings mean a parent will need to ask specific questions to get a full picture. For a family weighing the school, the most important steps are to verify post-secondary outcomes, understand what supports are available for students who are below grade level, and ask how the school’s charter status allows it to operate differently from the traditional district schools in the consolidation plan.
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