CPSB performs above state average despite unprecedented challenges

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) - The Calcasieu Parish School Board has released its simulated district and school performance scores.

When the state released its scores, Calcasieu Parish’s performance was not included due to the high number of days missed by students during the hurricanes. Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus wanted to let the parish know how the local schools performed, so they released the parish’s scores separately.

“I know people are tired of hearing in Lake Charles about COVID and our two hurricanes and our ice storm, but that is definitely something our school system had to endure - all of those things,” Bruchhaus said.

The unprecedented events of last year caused some students to miss up to 61 days, just because of the hurricanes. Even so, the school system was able to succeed.

“We exceeded the state averages, even with all of that we went through, in almost every category,” Bruchhaus said. “Even our whole district dropped far less than the whole state dropped on an average basis.”

One of those statistics: Calcasieu’s simulated district performance score went from 81.7 in 2019 to 81.3 in 2021, a decrease of .4 points. However, the state average district performance score went from 77.1 in 2019 to 75.3 in 2021, a decrease of 1.8 points.

Also, several of the schools showed increases in school performance scores from 2019 to 2021, even with all of the pandemic and weather-related challenges.

“We had some schools that actually grew. We had some schools that grew in certain areas,” Bruchhaus said.

Bruchhaus wanted to release the performance scores for two main reasons.

“First of all, we wanted to call attention to the hard work of our teachers and all of the people across the district and in the schools that support those teachers in serving children,” Bruchhaus said.

Bruchhaus says teachers went above and beyond to ensure students didn’t fall too far behind, even with the difficult circumstances.

“Our teachers did a fantastic job last year - many of them with their own personal strife at the time,” Bruchhaus said.

He says they also wanted to encourage growth.

“We want everybody to know that we understand that we have a lot more work to do,” Bruchhaus said.

Bruchhaus says they are working diligently and developing plans to get students caught up.

“We’re committed to getting our students back up to grade level and making them successful, under the state measures, no matter what it takes,” Bruchhaus said.

Bruchhaus said he understands these changes won’t happen overnight, but they are working hard to get students caught up.

For the full press release, click HERE.

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