9 Best School Districts in Louisiana

Are you looking for a great place to raise your family? If so, you’ve probably already thought about where to live. While many factors go into choosing the right home, families often prioritize finding a community with good school districts.

With this in mind, if Louisiana is your desired destination, it’s important to research and know which districts and schools are considered among the best here. To help make things simpler, we assembled this list of the best school districts in Louisiana to benefit potential families relocating or purchasing their first home.

About Louisiana’s Education System

For public education, Louisiana has 70 school districts with 1,303 schools. The districts can be tied to a Parish or a municipality. From 2020 to 2021, it enrolled almost 700,000 students. The state averaged $11,837 in per-student spending. The state allows for charter schools that are publicly funded but run independently of the school district.

Unfortunately, the Louisiana school system is among the lowest-performing in the nation. According to US News and World Report, its preK-12 system rated 46 out of 50, while higher education ranked 48, giving Louisiana an overall 48 placement. It had the same standing in WalletHub’s analysis, which also looked at class sizing and instructor credentials. Education Week gave the state a D+, with only New Mexico and Nevada lower performing.

A completely different study by the Education Freedom Report Card written by the Heritage Foundation placed Louisiana ninth. This metric looked at factors like school choice, academic transparency, regulatory freedom, and return on investment for education spending rather than student tests or learning gains.

When it comes to academic performance, the state had an 84% high school graduation rate. In 2020-2021, 66% of students in grades 3rd-8th had at least basic or greater achievement in reading and 56% in math. In ACT testing, 29% had a composite score of 21 or greater. Around 54% of graduates went on to enroll in college.

While those numbers may not be impressive, that doesn’t mean you can’t find quality education in Louisiana. We looked at figures from the Louisiana Board of Education and independent evaluators to identify the school districts that are consistently high-performing.

Best districts

Zachary Community

Rated by several sources as the state’s best school district, Zachary Community Public School earned an “A” rating and the highest raw score from the LA BOE for 2022. The district is located just north of Baton Rouge. The school district was founded in 2003 and has been top-ranked since 2005. It’s growing fast, just like the community that it serves.

The school district operates seven schools in a cluster-grade approach. Grades PreK-6 are split into five different schools with a focus on grade levels (preK, K, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6) before attending middle school (7-8) and high school (9-12).

At the high school level, education starts with the Freshman Academy, which helps students transition into the rigorous environment. Zachary High School has numerous extracurricular activities, 16 offered AP courses, 25 dual enrollment courses, 10 career and technical programs, and 35 certifications. All students take the ACT in the 11th grade, and the school has an average composite score of 20.8.

Zachary is a small town that, combined with Baker, has around 30,000 residents. It is proud of its small-town charm and the community services that it can offer. There are three golf courses nearby, family-friendly activities, a historic village, and Baton Rouge Zoo.

West Feliciana Parish

In 2022, West Feliciana Parish was right on the heels of Zachary Community Schools, coming in at number two in the state’s raw scoring system. It was the highest-scoring school district in 2021. It’s one of the state’s few “A” school districts.

The small school district runs four schools serving just over 2,000 students. It offers universal pre-K education available for all students. The school district is also considered a Lighthouse School, which is recognized for its character and leadership. West Feliciana has a one-to-one device ratio at all schools from PK up to grade 12. The high school reported a graduation rate of 95%.

West Feliciana Parish is north of Baton Rouge and beside Zachary Community Schools. Its western border is the Mississippi River, and its northern border is Mississippi. Even though it is close to Baton Rouge, it is a very rural county with just over 15,000 residents in 2020. St. Francisville is the parish seat. One of its attractions is the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, but there is also ample forest and swamplands protected as wildlife management areas.

Ascension Parish

Ascension Parish Public Schools outside Baton Rouge has been an “A” rated school since grades began in 2011. It appeared on several lists as a top contender for the best school district.

Ascension Parish Public Schools is one of the larger ones on this list, with 31 schools and three specialty programs serving 23,000 students. The breakdown is 17 primary schools, two elementary schools (K-8), nine middle, and four high schools. High schools offer dual enrollment courses, AP courses, and career and technical education. All Ascension Parish schools are accredited by Cognia, which internationally certified the schools for their educational quality and rigor.

Ascension Parish lies southeast of Baton Rouge along I-10. It had over 126,000 residents, with Donaldsonville serving as the parish seat. Other large towns include Gonzales, Prairieville, and Sorrento. The Mississippi River winds its way through the southwestern part of the county on its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Lincoln Parish

Lincoln Parish is another school district that popped up several times on different evaluation lists as a top performer in Louisiana. While rated a “B” district in 2021 and 2022, its scores have been tenths of a point shy of the “A” rating. This part of the state is the northwestern Sportsman’s Paradise region of Louisiana.

Lincoln Parish Public Schools runs 12 schools and has a 97% graduation rate. It has an early education center, six elementary schools, a STEM academy, two middle schools, two high schools, and a K-12 school.

Ruston is the county seat, while other small towns include Simsboro and Choudrant. Shreveport is to the west, while Monroe is to the east. Both are easy to get to, thanks to I-20 running directly east-west through southern Lincoln Parish. The whole parish has just under 50,000 residents as of 2022.

Vermilion Parish

Many independent evaluators, like Vermilion Parish in southern Louisiana, earned a “B” in 2022 but an “A” in 2021 in the LA BOE system. It missed the mark in 2022 by just 8/10 a point.

The school district has 9,500 students, which are spread across 20 schools for a more intimate feeling. Many of the schools are centered around one of five area communities. There are 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, and five high schools. The Forked Island/Broussard Elementary School (a K-8 school) ranked no. 7 in the state, according to US News and World Report.

Based on its land mass, Vermilion Parish is a large parish southwest of Lafayette in central-southern Louisiana. Its communities tend to be very spread out. As you head towards the Gulf of Mexico, many wetlands, lakes, bayous, and state wildlife refuges exist. The whole county had just under 60,000 residents in 2020. Abbeville is the county seat.

Central Community

Located northeast of Baton Rouge, the Central Community School System earned an “A” rating from the LA BOE in 2022 and 2021. It’s the newest school district on the list, created in 2007 from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.

Today the Central Community district serves about 4,600 students with two elementary schools, an intermediate school, a middle school, a high school, and a virtual academy that pre-dates the pandemic. It has a 1:1 technology program that provides laptops for students in grades 3-12. The high school operates an early college program called Wildcat College. Students simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts, Louisiana transfer degree. It enables the students to enter any of the state’s public four-year universities as a junior.

The school district is based around the community of Central in northeastern East Baton Rouge Parish. This highly residential area comes with all the features you’d expect of a spread-out suburb, from Walmart Supercenters to sport league parks to farmer’s markets.

Cameron Parish

Another back-to-back “A” rated district, Cameron Parish was third in the state’s raw scoring system for 2022.

This southern Gulf front district is one of the smallest on the list. Cameron Parish runs four schools for 1,300 students. Because of the distance between communities, most schools are K-12, even if their name says “High School.” The high schools have a 92% graduation rate.

Cameron Parish has a lot of wildlife refuges, wetlands, lakes, and natural areas. From the immense Sabine Lake to centrally located Calcasieu Lake and across to Grand Lake, there is abundant waterfront here. At the same time, the whole population of the parish in 2020 was 5,617. So its student body accounts for almost a third of the total population. Cameron is the county seat and main town.

DeSoto

DeSoto Parish achieved an “A” in 2022 after being a “B” school in 2021. It’s been an “A” district several times since grades were launched by the BOE. The school district has about 5,000 students that attend one of its 10 schools.

It has a lot of diversity in how its schools work. For example, Logansport High School services grades PK-12 ans prepare students for success. Meanwhile, in Stonewall, the four schools are broken into lower elementary, upper elementary, middle, and high. There is one more PK-12 school, elementary, middle, and high, plus an alternative school. The graduation rate is 94%.

DeSoto Parish is directly south of Shreveport and has around 26,000 residents. You can get into the city easily because I-49 runs north-south through the parish. The western border is shared with Texas. Mansfield is the Parish seat, but other towns include Stanley, Stonewall, and Keachi.

Vernon Parish School Board

Vernon Parish was an “A” school district in 2021 and 2022. The district is top-rated for its ACT performance, student growth, graduation rate, and student opportunities. Five of its high schools received an “A” rating in 2021.

The parish has around 18 schools, from early childhood centers up to high school. The breakdown includes seven elementary schools, one junior high school, one middle school, and nine high schools. Like other districts, some high schools educate elementary and middle school students, too.

Vernon Parish is another western parish, with its western border shared by Texas. Leesville is the county seat for the nearly 50,000 residents, who also live in communities like Fort Polk, Simpson, and Anacoco. Three wildlife management areas are inside its borders. Nearby is Toledo Bend, a large reservoir formed by a dam on the Sabine River.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best School Districts in Louisiana

What parish in Louisiana has the best schools?

Plaquemines Parish ranks highly with its strong academic performance and is considered one of the top parishes in Louisiana for secondary schools. Belle Chasse High School is known to be a beacon of excellence in the state.

The parish also has solid college readiness programs and a math and reading proficiency focus. Sabine Parish is also well-regarded, particularly for its commitment to smaller student-to-teacher ratios, fostering individualized attention, and providing all the necessary support.

What are the top five high schools in Louisiana?

The top five high schools in Louisiana for 2024, based on academic performance, college readiness, and student achievements, include:

1. Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans has rigorous academic programs. Many students are accepted into Ivy League and HBCU schools every year, and Ben Franklin consistently ranks as one of the top public high schools in the state.
2. Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy is a school in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with a student population of 818 students. According to U.S. News & World Report, it’s the second-best secondary school in the state and the 89th in the national rankings, so if you seek quality education and a high college acceptance rate in Bayou State, that is a safe bet.
3. Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies is the best public school in Metairie and the best high school in Louisiana. For college-minded parents, Haynes offers a curriculum focusing on college readiness. If you have a child looking for physical education advantages, Haynes Academy athletics compete in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. The school also has strong programs for band, drama, and music.
4. Baton Rouge Magnet High School is a public magnet school in Baton Rouge that gives its population of 1,500 students a chance for success. Known for its diverse program offerings and commitment to college preparation, this public education institution is the fourth-best Louisiana High School. Still, it ranks #1 in Baton Rouge, LA, Metro Area High Schools, and East Baton Rouge Parish Schools.
5. Zachary High School is part of the Zachary Community Public School Board in Zachary, LA. This secondary school consistently ranks high for its graduation rates and academic performance.

Does Louisiana have good public schools?

Louisiana’s public schools vary in performance. Some schools excel offering quality of education, particularly in larger cities, but others struggle. The state’s authorities have made efforts to improve education through various initiatives, but challenges such as funding and educational disparities persist.

Some high-performing public schools are Benjamin Franklin High School and Baton Rouge Magnet High School, both consistently rank among the best in the state.

Louisiana charter schools, particularly in New Orleans, have been part of a state-led reform since Hurricane Katrina, with mixed results. Some charter schools have demonstrated academic achievement and innovation, while others face challenges and education issues.

What is the #2 school district in Louisiana?

According to Niche.com, Lincoln Parish Public Schools is the second-best school district in Louisiana. It is also considered the best place to teach and the best district for teachers in the state. Situated in Ruston, LA, Lincoln Parish Public Schools has a student population of 5,839 and offers PK and K-12. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17 to 1.

What are the best private schools in Louisiana?

Louisiana has several top-tier private schools, many of which are renowned for their academic excellence, small student-teacher ratios, and strong focus on college preparation. See below for more information:

• Metairie Park Country Day School: With rigorous academic programs and a 6:1 student-teacher ratio, this school ranks as the best private high school in Louisiana for 2024​.
• Isidore Newman School is one of the most prestigious private schools in New Orleans. It offers a robust college-prep curriculum.
• Episcopal School of Baton Rouge: This school provides students with a well-rounded education and excels in academics and extracurricular activities, with a 9:1 student-teacher ratio​.
• Episcopal School of Acadiana: This religious school in Lafayette focuses on liberal arts education. It boasts a low student-teacher ratio and fosters creativity and critical thinking​.
• Mount Carmel Academy: This all-girls Catholic school offers quality of education and challenges its pupils with a solid curriculum and a nurturing environment.

What is the #1 middle school in Louisiana?

According to Niche.com, Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies ranks #1 in Best Public Middle Schools in Louisiana. This is an A+ public magnet school part of Jefferson Parish Schools serving students 6th through 12th grade. This school is also the second-best college prep public high school in the state.

What are the best universities in Louisiana?

Here is the ranking of the five best universities in Louisiana in 2024 according to U.S. News & World Report:

#1 Tulane University: Situated in New Orleans, this university offers majors in Psychology, Social Sciences, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, and more. It occupies the position 73 in the national ranking.

#2 Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge: LSU is located near the Mississippi River and is a top public higher education institution in Louisiana. Popular majors offered here include Business, Engineering, and Education, as well as many services in terms of student life. 

#3 Loyola University New Orleans: A Jesuit, private university, Loyola has a 22-acre campus and a 78% acceptance rate. Majors in Music Management, Business and Criminology are top picks among students looking for quality of education.

#4  Louisina a Tech University: This public tech university is in Ruston and ranks 304 among other national universities. Majors with the most graduates include Biology/Biological Sciences with 9%, Mechanical Engineering with 6%, and Psychology with 4% of the total graduates.

#5 University of Louisiana at Lafayette: With strong programs in Liberal Arts, Business, and Health Sciences, this public institution ranks #345 among the Best Colleges and National Universities.

What’s the average teacher salary in Louisiana?

Salaries for teachers in Louisiana range between $42,000 for a novice educator to $54,000 for advanced teachers. This in in line with the national average. The average teacher salary is around $52,000. These figures vary widely on factor like education level, location, and years of experience.

Also, districts like Bossier Parish offer higher starting salary for classroom teachers, while other fall on the lower end of the spectrum. Beyond the base salary, teachers can be remunerated for extra duties (coach, academic advisor) and advanced degrees.

Louisiana’s Public School Districts

So there you have it, nine of the most consistently top-performing Louisiana school districts. Their variety in size in structure shows education isn’t a one-size fits all. Each has found a system that works for them. And even though these are the highlighted nine, that doesn’t mean quality education can’t be found in other areas of the state. For example, the state’s top high school in 2022 was Taylor Science and Technology Academy in Jefferson Parish.

Learn more about buying a home in Louisiana and what you need to know before you move to the Pelican State.