Students participating in the LEAP test, highlighting educational assessments in Louisiana.
The latest LEAP test results for Louisiana students indicate mixed performance, with progress in mathematics and stagnation in English language skills. NOLA Public Schools saw a slight increase in mastery rates, while St. Tammany Parish distinguished itself with high performance. The data reveals overall improvement, but concerns mount as tougher academic standards approach, potentially impacting future scores.
The latest Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) test results reveal a mixed performance for students across state districts, with notable growth in mathematics contrasted by stagnation in English language skills. The findings indicate a slight improvement in overall student proficiency, with 35% of Louisiana students achieving mastery or above in English, math, and science combined, a decrease of 1 percentage point from the previous year.
In New Orleans, NOLA Public Schools recorded a modest 2 percentage point increase in the number of students in grades 3-12 reaching mastery or above. Orleans Parish registered modest year-over-year gains in core subjects, with 37% of students holding mastery in English, 24% in math, and 23% in science, reflecting a 1 percentage point increase in each subject area.
The most significant strides were noted in high school mathematics, especially in Algebra I, which saw an increase of 6 percentage points to 38% mastery, while geometry maintained a steady performance of 25%. However, English results for high school students presented a mixed picture, with English I mastery rising by 5 percentage points to 38%, yet English II scores remained unchanged at 37%.
The St. Tammany Parish school system distinguished itself as one of Louisiana’s top-performing districts, boasting that 45% of students in grades 3-12 achieved mastery in English, math, and science combined. Jefferson Parish also celebrated its success, with five schools recognized for achieving mastery rates of 90% or above. As a result of improved performance, Jefferson Parish elevated their performance score from a “C” to a “B” for the first time in nine years.
Across the state, the overall performance score improved to a “B,” with a score of 80.2, while Orleans Parish made a notable gain, increasing their performance score by 4 points to maintain a “C” grade, marking the largest improvement recorded in the district’s history. St. Tammany Parish sustained its “B” rating, achieving a 3-point increase.
While the results exhibit progress since 2021—with grades 3-8 up by 5 percentage points and high school performance improving by 3 points—the outlook raises concerns as Louisiana prepares to implement tougher academic standards by 2026. District leaders worry that these new standards may impact future test scores.
The newly released data also indicates that among students in grades 3-8, 33% met state expectations in math, reflecting a 2-point increase from last year. Conversely, high school students demonstrated a slight decline, with mastery in English, math, and science decreasing by 1 percentage point to 35%.
As Louisiana’s education department introduces newly developed assessments for social studies and civics, results from these tests remain pending. In the broader context, state officials continue to evaluate educational strategies to enhance overall student performance while navigating the challenges of upcoming standards.
The start of the school year for many students, including those at Ralph J. Bunche Elementary in Metairie on August 7, 2023, and those welcomed by Sabrina Carter aboard a bus in New Orleans on August 15, 2024, coincides with these testing outcomes. With the evolving education landscape, stakeholders within the community are focused on supporting student growth in light of the recent findings.
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