The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Westside Elementary School
Westside Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Scott, a suburban community just west of Lafayette. Scott is a place with a strong Cajun cultural identity, known as the Boudin Capital of the World, where French and Cajun traditions remain present in daily life and community events like the annual Boudin Festival and Mardi Gras parade. The town is cut by the Union Pacific Railroad and oriented around US Route 90 and Interstate 10, making it a car-dependent suburb where most residents commute to Lafayette and surrounding areas for work. The median household income and home values in the area are broadly comparable to statewide benchmarks, and housing costs relative to income suggest a moderately affordable market for homebuyers and renters alike.
The school is part of the Lafayette Parish school system, and recent district-level changes were not publicly detailed in available sources. Westside Elementary is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Its enrollment is relatively large for an elementary school, serving students across all elementary grades. The student body is diverse, with Black students making up the largest share, followed by Hispanic and White students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. Data on special education and English learner enrollment was not available in the records reviewed.
State testing results from the LEAP 2025 assessments, which cover students in grades three through five, show that proficiency rates across subjects are below the midpoint among elementary schools in the county’s districts. In English language arts, about a third of tested students scored at the proficient level or above. In mathematics, about a quarter did. Social studies results were similar, and science proficiency was lower, with roughly one in five students reaching that bar. These are the school’s only available testing data, covering a single year, so no trend is yet visible. A parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports progress in math and science in particular.
Because Westside is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were not included in the available records. The school’s participation rate on state tests was very high, meaning nearly every enrolled student at the tested grade levels took the assessments, which gives a complete picture of the results.
The neighborhood around the school is suburban and residential, with commercial corridors along the highways. Scott’s civic life includes several parks, an arboretum with a walking trail, and La Maison de Begnaud, a heritage interpretive center that hosts cultural events. The city has seen population growth in recent years according to estimates, and its leaders describe the location at the junction of major highways as favorable for continued development. Families moving to the area will find a community that values its Cajun heritage and offers a range of outdoor and cultural amenities, though daily life is built around car travel.
For a family considering Westside Elementary, the central questions revolve around academic support. The school’s test results are on the lower side compared to other elementary schools in Lafayette Parish, and a family with a child who needs strong foundational instruction may want to understand what interventions and enrichment are available. The school’s diversity and the economic background of its students are characteristics to be aware of, not judgments. The absence of program or staffing details in the provided data means a family should reach out to the school directly to learn about class sizes, specialist teachers, and any specialized academic or enrichment offerings.
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