The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Arabi Elementary School
Arabi Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the St. Bernard Parish school system. It sits within the residential community of Arabi, a census-designated place on the east bank of the Mississippi River, just downriver from New Orleans. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the academic picture comes entirely from state assessments.
In the most recent testing year, the school reported proficiency rates across four subjects. In math, roughly two-fifths of students met the state’s proficiency threshold. In English language arts, the share was just above that. Science and social studies showed lower results, with about a quarter to just under a third of students scoring at the proficient level. Only a single year of data is available, so no trend can be assessed. A parent may want to ask the school how these results compare with prior years and what steps are being taken to address the lower science and social studies scores.
The student body is diverse. White and Black students each make up a sizable share, with Hispanic students also forming a substantial presence. Asian and multiracial students round out the enrollment. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. The school is not a charter and does not have a magnet designation; its Title I status was not reported in the available data. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was also missing, so a family with a child who receives special education services or is learning English would want to ask directly about those programs.
Arabi itself is a community shaped by upheaval and rebuilding. Hurricane Katrina inundated the entire area, causing a severe population decline. The community has since rebounded, but in 2022 it was struck by two tornadoes, one of which directly damaged Arabi Elementary School. Recovery from those storms continues. The housing market in the surrounding zip code reflects this context: home values are below the national median and have recently declined, making the area relatively affordable compared to much of the country. The typical monthly mortgage payment is lower than the national average, and rental costs are also modest relative to income. The historic Old Arabi district and the Mississippi River levee serve as local anchors, and most residents commute to New Orleans or neighboring Chalmette for work.
The St. Bernard Parish district, which operates Arabi Elementary, did not show any recent major curriculum, referendum, or property tax changes in a search of publicly reported information. The district comprises a single parish, so meaningful comparisons with other districts within the county are not possible; the neighbor comparison feature could not produce a ranking or relative position.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a mid-sized, diverse elementary school in a community that has faced serious natural disasters and is still recovering. Academic proficiency is moderate in math and ELA, and weaker in science and social studies. The area’s housing is affordable by national standards. The school serves pre-K through fifth grade, so the pathway beyond it would be to a middle school elsewhere in the parish. A parent may want to explore how the school supports students after disruptions, what intervention strategies are in place for subjects where proficiency is lower, and how the school engages families in a community that has had to rebuild repeatedly.
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