The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cherokee Elementary School
Cherokee Elementary School serves prekindergarten through fifth grade in Alexandria, Louisiana, as a regular public school within the Rapides Parish school system. It is a mid-sized elementary school by enrollment for the state, and the student body reflects the diversity of the central part of the city where it is located. More than four out of every five students at Cherokee qualify for free or reduced-price meals, making it a school where a large share of families face economic challenges. The student population is composed primarily of Black students, with a substantial White enrollment, a noticeable Hispanic presence, a smaller share of Asian students, and the remainder identifying as two or more races or Native American. Because the school does not serve high school grades, no graduation rate is reported.
Alexandria, the city where Cherokee sits, is a regional hub for healthcare, retail, and government across central Louisiana. The city is auto-oriented, with most daily errands requiring a car. The economy is anchored by two major hospitals, a Procter & Gamble manufacturing facility, and various government employers. The city's population has been slowly declining, which means the school is operating within a community that is not experiencing rapid housing growth or new development on a large scale. Housing in the school's surrounding neighborhoods is well below the Louisiana median value, and rents are also modest, making the area affordable even for families with limited income.
On the Louisiana LEAP 2025 state assessments, Cherokee's results show a mixed picture. In English language arts, roughly two out of every five students scored at the proficient level or above, which is the stronger of the tested subjects. Math proficiency was lower, with about three out of ten students reaching that mark. In science, the rate was lower still, at roughly two out of ten, and in social studies it was about a quarter of students proficient. The social studies assessment had a recent cut-score change, meaning those results should be read with an understanding that the scoring standard shifted. Across all subjects, participation rates were full, so these results reflect the tested student body. The data represents a single year's snapshot, so there is no multi-year trend to draw on for direction of change.
Because the comparison fact-set identified only one district in the county, placing Cherokee relative to similar schools in Rapides Parish was not possible. A parent evaluating this school should look into what supports are in place for students who are below grade level in math and science, and talk with the school about how it addresses the economic needs of its families. The school's strength, based on the available data, is the relatively higher performance in reading and English language arts compared to other subjects. Families considering Cherokee should also be aware that specific data on special education enrollment, English learner enrollment, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access were not available in the public record used for this profile. Those are areas where a direct conversation with the school would be important.
For a parent deciding between Cherokee and another elementary option, the school appears to be a setting where most students face economic disadvantage, where the academic focus on literacy may be a relative advantage, and where the neighborhood offers affordable housing in a city that anchors a broader region but is not growing. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, so it draws its students from a defined attendance zone within the city's residential neighborhoods.
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