Harlan Kirgan
A report on subgroup performance in St. Landry Parish public schools shows four schools in the parish where there is a two grade level difference in performance between white and black students.
The disparity was highlighted by Board members Candace Gerace and Mary Ellen Donatto.
The letter grades are from the state’s school performance scores.
A subgroup is a major racial or ethnic group; and economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, English learners, students in foster care, homeless students, and military affiliated students.
At least 10 students must in a subgroup to be pop up on the school score radar.
St. Landry Parish public schools has 13,481 students and 75.4 percent are economically disadvantaged, according to the Louisiana Department of Education. Fifty-seven percent of the students are black.
The schools where white students score two grade levels above black students are:
— Beau Chene High School, D blacks, and B whites;
— Opelousas High School, D blacks, and B whites.
— Opelousas Junior High School, F blacks, and C whites.
— Park Vista Elementary, D blacks, and B whites.
There are 16 schools where white students scored one grade level above black students. They are:
— Arnaudville Elementary, C blacks, and B whites.
— Beau Chene High School, D blacks, and B whites.
— Cankton Elementary, D blacks, and C whites.
— East Elementary, B blacks, and A whites.
— Eunice Elementary, C blacks, B whites.
— Eunice High, B blacks, and A whites.
— Glendale Elementary, C blacks, and B whites.
— Grand Coteau Elementary, D blacks, and C whites.
— Grand Prairie Elementary, B blacks, and A whites.
— Grolee Elementary, D blacks, and C whites.
— Lawtell Elementary, C blacks, and B whites.
— North Central High School, D blacks, and C whites.
— Port Barre Elementary, C blacks, and B whites.
— Port Barre High School, C blacks, and B whites.
— Port Barre Middle School, C blacks, and B whites.
— Sunset Elementary, D blacks, and C whites.
There are 10 schools where blacks and whites score at the same grade level. They are:
— Central Middle School, C for blacks and whites.
— Eunice Junior High School, C for blacks and whites.
— Leonville Elementary, B for blacks and whites.
— Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts, A for blacks and whites.
— North Elementary, F for blacks and whites.
— Northeast Elementary, D for blacks and whites.
— Palmetto Elementary, B for blacks and whites.
— Plaisance Elementary, D for blacks and whites.
— South Street Elementary, F for blacks and whites.
— Southwest Elementary, F for blacks and whites.
—Seven schools do not have enough white students to factor into the subgroup count, which must be at least 10 students. They are:
— Highland Elementary, C for blacks.
— Krotz Springs Elementary, B for whites.
— North Central High, D for blacks.
— North Elementary, F for blacks.
— South Elementary, F for blacks.
— Southwest Elementary.
— Washington Elementary, D for blacks.
Based on various subgroup performances, plans improvement plans are to be submitted to the state for the following schools: Central Middle, Grolee Elementary, Opelousas Junior High, Park Vista Elementary, Port Barre Middle, South Street Elementary, Southwest Elementary and Plaisance Elementary.
Principals are required to submit a plan to Superintendent Patrick Jenkins by Friday for an improvement plan targeting the subgroups. The school district is to report its plan to the state education department by Jan. 7.