The top reported proficiency rate is 14% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Roy Neal Shelling Sr. Elementary
Roy Neal Shelling Sr. Elementary serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and is part of the City of Monroe School District in northeastern Louisiana. The school sits in a mid-sized city that functions as the parish seat and economic hub for the region, though the city has experienced a long-term population decline typical of a mature urban center. The built environment is auto-oriented, with the city’s transit system providing bus routes across most areas. Major employers include the public school systems, healthcare facilities, a university, and a telecommunications firm, meaning education and healthcare anchor the local economy.
Shelling Elementary enrolls a student body that is overwhelmingly Black, with a very high share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This level of economic need is among the highest in the area. The school itself is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report nor any postsecondary pathway data.
State assessment results from the LEAP 2025 tests, which cover grades three through eight in math, English language arts, science, and social studies, show low proficiency rates across all four subjects. In math and science, the share of students scoring at proficient or above is very low. English language arts is somewhat higher but still well below most schools in the district and county. Social studies proficiency is similarly low, and it is worth noting that the social studies cut scores changed for this testing year, which may affect comparability. Participation in the assessments was full, so the results reflect nearly every enrolled student. Only one year of data is available for the school, so there is no trend to examine whether performance is improving or declining.
When placed alongside other schools within the districts of Ouachita Parish, Shelling Elementary’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. The comparison set includes three other school districts in the parish, and the school’s performance is well below the midpoint of that small group. A parent considering this school may want to ask about the specific academic interventions, tutoring, or extended learning opportunities available, particularly given the high level of economic disadvantage among students.
The district itself had no recently reported changes such as boundary shifts, new programs, or facility plans that would be material to a family evaluating the school. The city of Monroe offers a range of civic and cultural institutions, including a zoo, museums, a wildlife refuge, and a civic center, but the school’s immediate neighborhood is not further described in available sources. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to national averages, and rents are below the national typical, which may matter for families moving into the attendance zone.
Because Shelling Elementary does not serve high school grades, there is no information on college readiness metrics like AP or dual enrollment. No data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was reported, and staffing ratios and course access details are also absent from the available record. A parent may want to visit the school, speak with the principal about the instructional approach, and learn how the school supports students who are behind grade level. The school’s website would be a logical next step for current program information.
See more original research from School Decision →