Performance scores: Louisiana schools at same level as before pandemic

Baton Rouge, LA (KPLC) - Louisiana found itself with the exact same letter grade it had before the pandemic when the State Board of Education released performance scores Wednesday morning.

Louisiana as a whole received a B grade (77.1 average) for the 2021-22 school year - the same 77.1 score as in 2018-19.

Scores were not counted in 2019-20 and 2020-21 numbers were unofficial. Louisiana’s unofficial 2020-21 average was 75.3.

“We have to focus on staying on course of literacy efforts, refreshing math, transforming our high schools, and continue to give parents the options of education for their kids,” State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley said. “I believe if that if we do those things, we will continue to see improvements across the state of Louisiana.”

Locally, Cameron Parish saw the largest jump in its average - the parish improved from 90.5 in 2018-2019 to 94.7 in 2021-22. It is categorized as an ‘A’ district.

“Our principals do a wonderful job of holding our teachers and staff accountable,” Superintendent Charley Lemons said. “At the end of the day, those teachers don’t want to let their students down. Our teachers and our staff go above and beyond to make sure their students get what they need.”

Calcasieu Parish school district was categorized as a ‘B’ with an overall performance score of 82.8.

“We are reducing the number of low performing schools,” Superintendent Shannon LaFargue said. " We are growing within the progress indexes. Those are all positive metrics that we examine and look at to determine where we are in real time, so this is cause for us to exhale a little bit and realize where we are. It’s also an opportunity for us to realize the tremendous potential we have.”

Beauregard schools were given a ‘B’ with an overall score of 79.9.

“We had two that improved their letter grade, which we felt was very positive,” Superintendent Tim Cooley said. “Six of them maintained their letter grade, and three of them actually improved their SPS score. So, we are very thankful for that and the hard work that is going in.”

“So, we are solid B district right now,” Superintendent Kent Reed said. “We are looking at it, we are meeting, we are discussing things that we are trying to do this year, we are already doing to try and make improvements for the future.”

All of Southwest Louisiana’s parishes remained the same letter grade they were before the pandemic.

See individual school scores HERE.

See statewide district scores HERE.

The state has traditionally issued school performance scores for public schools based on student achievement data since 1999. The Louisiana Department of Education says these scores allow them to update families and the public on how schools are doing. Schools are rated with letter grades from “A” to “F.”

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