The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Northeast Elementary School
Northeast Elementary School is a regular public school in Opelousas, Louisiana, serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade within the St. Landry Parish school system. It is a neighborhood elementary school that feeds into the parish’s middle and high schools. The building sits on a residential street in a small city with a deep Creole and Cajun heritage, an economy rooted in agriculture, oil, retail, and manufacturing, and a population that has been slowly declining over recent years.
The school enrolls a small number of students for its grade band, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across kindergarten through fourth grade and a smaller pre-K group. The student body is predominantly Black, with a much smaller share of Hispanic students, white students, and students identifying as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a context where economic need is high. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the source reports, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those groups are supported.
State assessment results for the 2024-25 school year, covering only grades three and four (the tested grades in this building), show that in mathematics a relatively small proportion of students scored at the proficient or advanced level. English language arts proficiency was higher but still below half of students. Science and social studies proficiency rates were also low. Across all four subjects, the share of students reaching proficiency lagged well behind state averages, and a parent considering this school will want to discuss with the principal or teachers what academic interventions and support programs are in place. Because only one year of data was available for this report, there is no trend to show whether performance is improving or declining.
The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate applies. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing was reported, though these are areas a family might explore during a school visit.
Opelousas itself is a small city with a historic downtown centered on the parish courthouse square. It is known as the “spice capital of the world” for its seasoning companies and as the “Zydeco Music Capital of the World” for its cultural festivals. Major employers include a racetrack and casino, a Walmart distribution center, and food producers. Home values in the area are modest relative to state and national benchmarks, and have declined recently. The unemployment rate nationally has held steady, and the overall economic context for the parish is one of slow decline rather than growth.
St. Landry Parish reported no recent major changes that would directly affect parents, such as redistricting, program overhauls, or facility projects. Comparisons within the parish were not possible because this school was the only one with proficiency data in the cohort used for that analysis.
Northeast Elementary is a high-need, early-grades school in a small city with a strong local identity but limited economic growth. For a family looking at this school, the central question is how the building’s academic supports match a child’s needs, especially in math and reading, and what enrichment or intervention resources the school can offer in a setting where many students come from low-income households.
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