The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Central Elementary School
Central Elementary School serves third through fifth graders in the unincorporated rural community of Calhoun, Louisiana, as part of the Ouachita Parish School System. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school draws from the same attendance zone that feeds into Calhoun Middle School and West Ouachita High School, making it one link in a sequential K-12 pipeline within the community.
On the Louisiana LEAP 2025 assessments, Central Elementary’s results tell a mixed story. In English language arts, a moderate share of students scored at the proficient level, and this was the school’s strongest subject area. Math proficiency was lower, and parents may want to look into how the school supports math learning in these grades. Science and social studies results fell in between, with a slightly smaller share of students achieving proficiency compared to ELA. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it above the midpoint relative to other districts within Ouachita Parish—a positive signal for families comparing options within the county. The assessment data available covers only the most recent school year, so trend information is not yet meaningful for judging direction.
The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Black students and students of two or more races, and a very small Hispanic presence. Just over half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic need within the school community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the provided records, so families with children in those groups may want to ask the school directly about available supports.
Calhoun itself is a small, unincorporated census-designated place with no local government of its own. The landscape is hilly and wooded, and the community is car-dependent, with scattered residential properties and commercial clusters near Interstate 20. There is no walkable downtown or main street. Reported population trends give conflicting signals: some sources describe recent growth driven by nearby retail and universities, while census and projection data show a slight decline. The housing market in the ZIP code shows home values a bit above the state average, and rents are relatively affordable compared to national benchmarks. Mortgage rates have fluctuated modestly in recent months. No major new housing developments were identified, and employment data for the community itself is sparse; the school district is likely a significant local employer.
Central Elementary offers no advanced placement or career pathway programs because it serves only elementary grades; those opportunities exist at the high school level further along the pipeline. Information on course access, staffing ratios, discipline rates, and chronic absenteeism was not available in the data provided. The district’s recent changes were not documented in the search results, so families should check with the school or district office for any upcoming initiatives, facility updates, or curriculum shifts.
For a family considering Central Elementary, the academic picture is one where ELA performance is the relative strength, while math and science results lag. The school operates in a rural setting with a largely white, lower-middle-income student population. Housing is moderately priced and the area has seen some growth narrative but uncertain demographic trends. Parents who prioritize a strong local elementary with a countywide standing above average may find this school fitting, but those with children needing specialized support or looking for a more diverse peer environment may want to gather additional information directly from the school.
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