The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on J. L. Jones Elementary School
J. L. Jones Elementary School is a regular public school in Minden, Louisiana, serving only second and third grade. That narrow grade band shapes everything about the school: it is an entry point into the upper elementary years, not a full K-5 or K-8 environment. Children arrive for just two years before moving on to another building. The enrollment is small, with roughly balanced sections at each grade level.
State testing results from the LEAP 2025 assessments show that proficiency rates across subjects are low. In English language arts, about one in five students scored at the proficient level. Math proficiency was slightly lower. Science and social studies results were notably weaker, with very few students reaching proficiency. Because the state changed its social studies cut scores in this testing cycle, that subject’s results should be read with some caution; they may not be directly comparable to prior years. Only a single year of data is available, so there is no trend to track yet. A parent will want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet on grade level, especially given that the school serves a critical transitional stage.
The student body is majority Black, with a substantial white minority and a small number of students who identify as two or more races. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that reflects the economic circumstances of the families the school serves. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not available for this report; a family with a child who has an individualized education plan or is learning English should ask the school directly about available services and staffing.
J. L. Jones sits within the Webster Parish school district, which covers all of Webster Parish. The district brief turned up no recently reported changes to programming, leadership, or policy that would affect day-to-day life at the school. The school itself did not provide program offerings, course access, or staffing ratios in the available data.
The school is located in Minden, a small city that serves as the parish seat. Minden has a historic Main Street district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but the overall built environment is low-density and car-dependent. The local economy is anchored by retail, health care, and food services. Population has been declining over the past several years, and the housing market reflects that pressure: home values in the area are well below national and state benchmarks, and the typical monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is modest. A family moving here will find an affordable housing market in a small, slow-growth community. Many residents commute to Shreveport or other nearby towns for work.
Because J. L. Jones serves only second and third grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and the school does not administer assessments to younger grades. The single year of test data means there is no way to assess whether performance is improving or declining. Chronic absenteeism and discipline figures were also absent from the available record. These gaps are common for a small early-elementary school, but a parent may want to follow up with the district or school office to understand attendance patterns and behavioral supports.
For a family already living in Webster Parish, J. L. Jones is the place where children spend two foundational years before moving to an upper elementary or intermediate school. The academic results suggest many students arrive or leave without having reached grade-level benchmarks, and the high poverty rate points to a school that likely serves a community with significant needs. Families considering the area should weigh the affordable housing and small-town setting against the academic challenges and the narrow grade span that means their child will transition schools again soon.
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