The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in English language arts. The lowest is 2% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Madison James Foster Elementary School
Madison James Foster Elementary School is a regular public school in Monroe, Louisiana, serving students from prekindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of the City of Monroe School District. The school sits within a city that functions as the economic and cultural center of northeastern Louisiana, a mid-sized place that has seen its population decline over recent decades. Monroe is auto-oriented, with a municipal bus system, and its economy is anchored by education, healthcare, and telecommunications. The school itself is located on Richwood Road, on the southern edge of the city.
The student body is almost entirely Black, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. The school enrolls a modest number of students, with classes spread across the elementary and early middle grades. No data on students with disabilities or English learners was available for this school, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
State assessment results from the LEAP 2025 tests show that the school’s academic performance is very low. Across all tested subjects in grades three through eight, only a very small share of students reached the proficient level. In math, the share was well below the state average. In English language arts, it was also low. In science and social studies, proficiency was even rarer, with essentially no students reaching the proficient bar. The school’s overall proficiency index, which combines all subjects, places it in the bottom quartile among the handful of districts in Ouachita Parish. The school did have a high participation rate on the tests, meaning nearly all students were assessed, so the results reflect the full student population. Because the school only serves through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report.
The school does not offer a high school program, so there are no advanced placement, dual credit, or career pathway offerings to describe. The school’s website was not provided in the data, and the district brief turned up no recent major changes such as boundary shifts, curriculum overhauls, or facility investments that would be relevant to a family considering this school.
The housing market in the area around the school is notably affordable. Home values are well below national and state medians, and rents are also relatively low. This makes the neighborhood accessible to families with modest incomes, but it also reflects the broader economic challenges of a city that has experienced population loss and natural disasters in recent years.
For a parent evaluating Madison James Foster Elementary, the central fact is the academic performance. The school serves a high-poverty, predominantly Black student body, and its test results are among the lowest in the region. The peer environment is homogeneous in terms of race and socioeconomic background. The school’s size is moderate for an elementary school. A family whose priority is strong academic outcomes as measured by state tests would likely find that this school does not meet that expectation. A parent who values a neighborhood school serving a high-needs community with affordable housing nearby may want to learn more about the school’s specific programs, teaching staff, and any targeted interventions that could support student growth. The absence of data on special education, discipline, and attendance means that a family should ask the school directly about those areas to get a fuller picture.
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