The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Chahta-ima Elementary School
Chahta-Ima Elementary School in Lacombe is a regular public school serving children from pre-kindergarten through third grade. Because it stops at grade three, there are no measures like a graduation rate or high school outcomes to report, and the school focuses entirely on the early childhood and primary years. The school sits within St. Tammany Parish, a Louisiana district that spans a mix of suburban and rural communities along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
Lacombe itself is a low-density census-designated place with a rural-suburban feel, spread across large lots and bayou-adjacent land. It lacks a traditional downtown core, and the built environment is car-dependent, with no concentrated commercial center or walkable street grid. Schools in Lacombe, including Chahta-Ima, are distributed across separate campuses rather than clustered together. Most residents commute out of the area for work, and the community has a very high homeownership rate. Housing values sit around the state average but below the national figure, and the market has seen modest recent growth in population alongside a slight decline in median property value. The area’s largest employment sectors are health care, education, and public administration, and Northshore Technical Community College’s main campus is located here, adding an institutional anchor.
On state assessments, which are given starting in third grade, Chahta-Ima students took the LEAP exams in math, English language arts, science, and social studies. Every student participated. In English language arts, the share of students scoring at the proficient level or above was well over half, a solid result for an early elementary school. In math, the proficiency rate was lower, at about two-fifths of test-takers. Science proficiency was quite low, with fewer than one in five students reaching the proficient mark. Social studies fell in between, with roughly a third of students scoring proficient or above. The school has only a single year of testing data available, so no trend is yet visible. Parents may want to ask the school what supports are in place for math and science, especially given that early foundations in these subjects matter for later learning.
The student body is diverse. White students form the largest group, making up close to half of the enrollment. Black students account for more than a quarter, Hispanic students for about a sixth, and the remainder includes multiracial and small numbers of Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is high, indicating that a substantial proportion of families have lower household incomes. Information on special education and English learner populations was not available in the data provided, so a parent should inquire directly about those services if they are relevant.
The school serves a relatively small enrollment given that it includes pre-kindergarten through third grade, with roughly each grade level holding a class of similar size. Pre-kindergarten is included, which can be an important entry point for families seeking early childhood education within the public system. No information was available on specific program offerings, such as gifted or enrichment options, nor on staffing ratios or discipline rates. The lack of a Title I designation in the data means that status is unclear; given the income profile, it would be reasonable to check whether the school receives federal Title I funding for additional support.
Chahta-Ima Elementary is a neighborhood school for Lacombe’s youngest learners, operating in a car-dependent, low-density community where housing is largely owner-occupied and home values are moderate relative to the state. The academic picture shows a relative strength in reading at grade three, with math and especially science presenting areas where the school likely focuses attention. For a family weighing their options, this is a school that serves a critical developmental window, and the available data gives a partial view that is best supplemented by a visit and a conversation with the principal about early literacy and math instruction, the science curriculum, and how the school supports students from economically diverse backgrounds.
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