The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Grolee Elementary School
Grolee Elementary School is a regular public elementary school in Opelousas, the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. It serves children from prekindergarten through fourth grade, with an enrollment that falls in the mid-range for an elementary school of this grade span. The city itself is a small municipal center with a historic downtown, an economy rooted in agriculture, oil, manufacturing, and retail, and a nationally recognized food and music heritage. Opelousas has seen population decline in recent years, and the school sits within a district where no major parent-relevant changes were publicly reported in the last several years.
The school’s academic picture comes from Louisiana’s LEAP assessments, given to students in grades three and up. Grolee tests only its third and fourth graders, and participation was complete. On the state’s English language arts assessment, roughly a quarter of students scored at the proficient level or above. In mathematics, the share was lower, and in science and social studies it fell further still. These results place the school well below state averages, and a parent may want to ask the school directly about its approach to curriculum and intervention in the early elementary years, especially given that testing begins in third grade and the school does not serve grades beyond fourth, so no graduation rate or longitudinal outcome data are available to provide a fuller picture. State testing data for 2024-25 is the only year on record in the multi-year trend, so no comparison across years is possible.
The student body is overwhelmingly Black or African American, with a very small number of White students and even fewer Hispanic or multiracial students. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic context of the community. The school’s data do not include breakdowns for students with disabilities or English learners, so those dimensions of student support are not visible here. Families would need to contact the school to learn about special education services or English language programming.
Housing in the area is comparatively affordable. Typical home values in the ZIP code are well below the national median, and rents are modest relative to income, making Opelousas a lower-cost place to live. Home values have been declining in the near term, which aligns with the area’s population trend rather than growth pressure. The city’s largest employers include Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, a Walmart distribution center, and food producers such as Tony Chachere’s. The school is located on West Grolee Street, within the city’s residential fabric and away from the commercial corridors.
For a family weighing Grolee Elementary, the essential question is how the school’s academic performance fits their expectations and what support systems are in place for students who need extra help. The school’s proficiency rates are low, and the available data do not show improvement over time because only a single year is recorded. The student population is homogeneous in socioeconomic need, and the surrounding community offers a stable but economically modest environment. No information on staffing ratios, course access, or disciplinary climate was present in the data, so those aspects remain unexamined. A parent with school-age children would want to visit, talk to teachers, and understand the school’s instructional focus before making a decision.
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