The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on O.w. Dillon Leadership Academy
O.W. Dillon Leadership Academy is a regular public school in Kentwood, Louisiana, serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of the Tangipahoa Parish school system. The school’s enrollment is small for its grade band, with a student body that is overwhelmingly Black and a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. Specific counts of students with disabilities and English learners were not reported.
State testing results are available for the school’s grades three through six. Proficiency rates on the LEAP 2025 assessments were low across all tested subjects. In English language arts, about a quarter of students scored at the proficient level or above. In mathematics, the share was lower. Science and social studies results were weaker still, with the proficiency rate in science very low. Participation on testing day was complete, meaning nearly every enrolled student took the assessments. Because only a single year of data was available, there is no trend information to show whether performance is improving or declining.
Kentwood is a rural town with a slow pace of life, limited walkability, and a small-town commercial core. The town has seen a slight population decline over the last two decades, and publicly reported information does not point to major new housing development or rapid growth. Housing values in the area are below the national average, and rents are moderate relative to incomes, which may make the community more accessible for families seeking lower cost of living.
The district that operates O.W. Dillon recently faced a significant financial setback. In spring 2024, voters rejected a property tax renewal that had funded teacher salaries and school operations, creating a revenue gap that parents may want to follow closely for its impact on staffing and programs. The district has also launched a K-3 literacy overhaul aligned with a statewide science-of-reading mandate, which changes how early reading is taught across all elementary schools. Additionally, the district consolidated two small schools in late 2023, which altered school options for some families in the parish. No program offerings specific to O.W. Dillon were available for review, so it is not possible to speak to access to art, music, foreign language, or other enrichment at this school.
Because the school stops at sixth grade, there is no graduation rate or high school outcomes to evaluate. The school did not provide discipline data, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism numbers, leaving gaps in the picture of school climate and adult support. A parent considering this school may want to ask the principal or visit the campus for details on class sizes, behavior expectations, and what middle school pathway students typically move into after sixth grade. The comparison to other districts in Tangipahoa Parish could not be computed because the school was the only one in its comparison group, so no relative academic benchmark is available.
For a family rooted in or moving to rural Kentwood, O.W. Dillon is a small elementary and middle school serving a high-poverty population. The academic results are low, and the district’s recent tax failure adds uncertainty to the resources behind those results. A parent who values a close-knit, small school setting in a quiet town may find it fits, but those focused on strong test scores or broad extracurricular offerings will want to look into whether the school’s specific programs match their priorities and to monitor how the district’s financial and instructional changes play out in the classroom.
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