St. Charles school system gets ‘A’ on state report card

St. Charles Parish Public Schools got an “A” on its 2016-17 report card keeping it among the top performing systems in Louisiana.

The system again ranked among highest graded systems including Ascension, Allen, Bossier, Cameron, DeSoto, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, LaSalle and Plaquemines parishes, as well as Zachary Community School District and Central Community School District, according to the Louisiana Department of Education’s 2016-17 School Performance Scores and Letter Grades report.

“Our success can be attributed to the leadership of the School Board, dedicated educators, and committed support staff that work for the success of every student, every day,” said St. Charles Superintendent Felecia Gomez-Walker. “St. Charles Parish Public Schools is supported by parents, families, business and industry and community members that value education and collaborate to make this a high performing school system.”

Gomez-Walker said the single-letter grade label assigned to schools and districts by the state represents partial accounting and often results in volatility from year-to-year.

“Selected data used to derive a single letter grade does not represent the full benefit to students,” she said. “While we consider and analyze data and information provided by the state, additional measures are used to determine success and opportunities for improvement.”

In performance score, St. Charles Parish ranked 17th in the state at 100, down from last year’s score of 109.3. Highest scoring systems include Zachary Community School District at 115.6 followed by Plaquemines Parish schools at 110.7.

The decline is attributed to the statewide challenge of school systems apparently struggling to hit performance goals for their neediest students.

“We are committed to high standards, equitable opportunities, support for struggling students, transparency and an accountability system with credibility,” Walker-Gomez said.  “St. Charles Parish Public Schools is a top performing school system based on success indicators valued by our families and community.”

Hahnville High School’s grade rose from last year’s “B” to an “A” this year.

Allemands, Lakewood, Mimosa Park, R. J. Vial, New Sarpy, and Ethel Schoeffler elementary schools all fell from last year’s “A” to a “B” this year.

Luling Elementary remained at a “C” both years. Norco Elementary retained an “A” both years, and St. Rose Elementary remained at a “B.”

In middle schools, R. K. Smith and Albert Cammon both dropped from a “B” last year to a “C” this year. J.B. Martin maintained an “A” both years. Harry Hurst Middle School’s grade dropped from an “A” to a “B” this year.

Even with the grade declines, the schools also still rank among the strongest performers in the state.

“St. Charles Parish Public Schools labels itself as a Triple ‘A’ school district focusing on academics, athletics, and the arts,” said Superintendent Felecia Walker-Gomez. “We are committed to high standards, equitable opportunities, support for struggling students, transparency and an accountability system with credibility.”