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LALouisiana rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Louisiana

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Louisiana average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 153 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Minden
Louisiana · Best schools

Where Minden lands: #121 of 153

−14.3 pts vs. the LA average in math + reading · Visit Minden →

Prairieville 1 Prairieville +35.5 pts Math 67.4% · Reading 72.6% Mandeville 2 Mandeville +32.3 pts Math 64.3% · Reading 69.2% Maurice 3 Maurice +30.1 pts Math 61% · Reading 68%
#Townvs. state averageMathReading
1 Prairieville PrairievilleAscension Parish +35.5 pts 67.4% 72.6%
2 Mandeville MandevilleSt. Tammany Parish +32.3 pts 64.3% 69.2%
3 Maurice MauriceVermilion Parish +30.1 pts 61% 68%
4 ClaiborneOuachita Parish +26.8 pts 54% 68.6%
5 Map of Youngsville YoungsvilleLafayette Parish +26.0 pts 57.7% 63.2%
6 Abita Springs Abita SpringsSt. Tammany Parish +25.8 pts 50.6% 69.9%
7 Bayou VistaSt. Mary Parish +25.1 pts 62% 57%
8 Map of Carlyss CarlyssCalcasieu Parish +22.2 pts 50.3% 62.9%
9 Milton MiltonLafayette Parish +22.1 pts 49% 64%
10 Zachary ZacharyZachary Community School District +21.5 pts 48.9% 62.9%
11 Benton BentonBossier Parish +20.5 pts 50.9% 59%
12 Map of Chackbay ChackbayLafourche Parish +20.0 pts 49.4% 59.4%
13 Map of Delcambre DelcambreIberia Parish +19.7 pts 49.6% 58.6%
14 Map of Norco NorcoSt. Charles Parish +18.6 pts 51% 55%
15 Belle Chasse Belle ChassePlaquemines Parish +18.1 pts 51% 54%
16 EastwoodBossier Parish +17.1 pts 53% 50%
17 Map of Central CentralCentral Community School District +16.7 pts 48.2% 54.2%
18 Map of Lockport LockportLafourche Parish +16.0 pts 43.8% 57.1%
19 Meraux MerauxSt. Bernard Parish +15.4 pts 46.6% 53.2%
20 Broussard BroussardLafayette Parish +14.8 pts 41.5% 57%
21 Berwick BerwickSt. Mary Parish +13.9 pts 42.7% 54%
22 Destrehan DestrehanSt. Charles Parish +13.1 pts 42.1% 53%
23 Haughton HaughtonBossier Parish +12.9 pts 45.9% 48.9%
24 Moss BluffCalcasieu Parish +12.3 pts 41.8% 51.8%
25 Map of Kaplan KaplanVermilion Parish +12.3 pts 41.7% 51.9%
26 GallianoLafourche Parish +10.4 pts 35.5% 54.3%
27 Larose LaroseLafourche Parish +10.3 pts 39.2% 50.2%
28 PrienCalcasieu Parish +9.6 pts 35% 53%
29 Map of Walker WalkerLivingston Parish +8.9 pts 38.4% 48.3%
30 Denham Springs Denham SpringsLivingston Parish +8.7 pts 50.4% 36%
31 Map of Lake Arthur Lake ArthurJefferson Davis Parish +8.6 pts 39% 47%
32 Map of Bayou Cane Bayou CaneTerrebonne Parish +8.4 pts 33.9% 51.8%
33 Brusly BruslyWest Baton Rouge Parish +8.0 pts 39.1% 45.8%
34 Ruston RustonLincoln Parish +7.8 pts 38.4% 46.1%
35 Cut OffLafourche Parish +7.6 pts 32% 52%
36 Map of Lutcher LutcherSt. James Parish +7.1 pts 35% 48%
37 Patterson PattersonSt. Mary Parish +6.8 pts 35.5% 46.9%
38 Covington CovingtonSt. Tammany Parish +6.5 pts 36.1% 45.8%
39 Welsh WelshJefferson Davis Parish +6.5 pts 38.4% 43.5%
40 Gonzales GonzalesAscension Parish +6.4 pts 37% 44.7%
41 West Monroe West MonroeOuachita Parish +6.3 pts 33% 48.4%
42 Map of Sulphur SulphurCalcasieu Parish +6.2 pts 32.9% 48.3%
43 Slidell SlidellSt. Tammany Parish +6.0 pts 35.2% 45.6%
44 Lafayette LafayetteLafayette Parish +5.6 pts 36.3% 43.9%
45 Schriever SchrieverTerrebonne Parish +5.1 pts 32% 47%
46 Map of St. Rose St. RoseSt. Charles Parish +4.9 pts 31.7% 47.1%
47 Map of Westlake WestlakeCalcasieu Parish +4.4 pts 32.1% 45.7%
48 Lacombe LacombeSt. Tammany Parish +4.1 pts 33.5% 43.5%
49 Natchitoches NatchitochesNatchitoches Parish +3.9 pts 38.3% 38.3%
50 New Iberia New IberiaIberia Parish +3.7 pts 33.2% 43%
51 Pineville PinevilleRapides Parish +3.6 pts 30.7% 45.3%
52 Harahan HarahanJefferson Parish +3.6 pts 29% 47%
53 Arabi ArabiSt. Bernard Parish +3.6 pts 38% 38%
54 Eunice EuniceSt. Landry Parish +3.5 pts 32% 43.9%
55 Chalmette ChalmetteSt. Bernard Parish +2.8 pts 33.5% 41.1%
56 Map of DeRidder DeRidderBeauregard Parish +2.8 pts 34.9% 39.5%
57 Westwego WestwegoJefferson Parish +2.7 pts 35% 39.4%
58 Bayou BlueLafourche Parish +2.6 pts 27.3% 46.8%
59 Map of South Vacherie South VacherieSt. James Parish +2.6 pts 42% 32%
60 Bossier City Bossier CityBossier Parish +2.4 pts 33.3% 40.3%
61 Jena JenaLaSalle Parish +2.1 pts 32.4% 40.7%
62 Thibodaux ThibodauxLafourche Parish +1.9 pts 26.9% 45.7%
63 Map of Leesville LeesvilleVernon Parish +1.9 pts 26.7% 45.9%
64 Map of Gray GrayTerrebonne Parish +1.7 pts 31.8% 40.6%
65 Swartz SwartzOuachita Parish +1.6 pts 25% 47%
66 Ball BallRapides Parish +1.3 pts 31.5% 40.1%
67 Alexandria AlexandriaRapides Parish +1.1 pts 27.6% 43.5%
68 Gretna GretnaJefferson Parish +1.1 pts 32.8% 38.3%
69 LulingSt. Charles Parish +0.9 pts 31.2% 39.4%
70 Iowa IowaCalcasieu Parish +0.6 pts 24.2% 45.9%
71 Jefferson JeffersonJefferson Parish 0.0 pts 27.8% 41%
72 Morgan City Morgan CitySt. Mary Parish −0.4 pts 29.1% 39%
73 Map of Gramercy GramercySt. James Parish −0.5 pts 31% 37%
74 Rayne RayneAcadia Parish −0.6 pts 26.1% 41.5%
75 Pearl River Pearl RiverSt. Tammany Parish −1.0 pts 27.1% 39.8%
76 Metairie MetairieJefferson Parish −1.2 pts 28.7% 37.8%
77 Map of Mamou MamouEvangeline Parish −1.6 pts 28% 37.8%
78 Map of Franklinton FranklintonWashington Parish −1.9 pts 25.7% 39.3%
79 Scott ScottLafayette Parish −2.0 pts 32% 32.9%
80 Vinton VintonCalcasieu Parish −2.0 pts 26.8% 38.1%
81 Map of Haynesville HaynesvilleClaiborne Parish −2.3 pts 28.6% 35.8%
82 Map of Brownfields BrownfieldsEast Baton Rouge Parish −2.5 pts 27% 37%
83 Kenner KennerJefferson Parish −3.1 pts 26.6% 36.1%
84 Baton Rouge Baton RougeEast Baton Rouge Parish −3.4 pts 25.1% 37.1%
85 Map of Lake Charles Lake CharlesCalcasieu Parish −4.4 pts 24.2% 35.8%
86 River RidgeJefferson Parish −4.5 pts 21% 39%
87 Plaquemine PlaquemineIberville Parish −4.5 pts 25% 35%
88 TimberlaneJefferson Parish −4.7 pts 28.9% 30.6%
89 Map of DeQuincy DeQuincyCalcasieu Parish −4.7 pts 18.7% 40.7%
90 Winnfield WinnfieldWinn Parish −5.6 pts 28.5% 29.1%
91 Jennings JenningsJefferson Davis Parish −5.8 pts 23.6% 33.8%
92 Map of Shreveport ShreveportCaddo Parish −6.2 pts 23.1% 33.5%
93 Church Point Church PointAcadia Parish −6.3 pts 20.9% 35.4%
94 Estelle EstelleJefferson Parish −6.8 pts 22.1% 33.1%
95 Carencro CarencroLafayette Parish −6.8 pts 25.6% 29.6%
96 Raceland RacelandLafourche Parish −7.2 pts 20.6% 33.9%
97 Ponchatoula PonchatoulaTangipahoa Parish −7.4 pts 20.9% 33.1%
98 Mansfield MansfieldDeSoto Parish −7.4 pts 19.2% 34.8%
99 Violet VioletSt. Bernard Parish −7.5 pts 27% 27%
100 New Orleans New OrleansThe Willow School −8.0 pts 20.5% 32.4%
101 St. Gabriel St. GabrielIberville Parish −8.0 pts 22% 31%
102 Map of Blanchard BlanchardCaddo Parish −9.3 pts 17.5% 32.9%
103 Map of Bunkie BunkieAvoyelles Parish −9.3 pts 22.6% 27.6%
104 Donaldsonville DonaldsonvilleAscension Parish −10.0 pts 22% 27%
105 Map of Ville Platte Ville PlatteEvangeline Parish −10.0 pts 17.9% 31%
106 Monroe MonroeCity of Monroe School District −10.1 pts 18.9% 29.9%
107 Vidalia VidaliaConcordia Parish −10.6 pts 17.3% 30.3%
108 Oakdale OakdaleAllen Parish −10.9 pts 19.1% 27.9%
109 Port Allen Port AllenWest Baton Rouge Parish −11.2 pts 17% 29.6%
110 Lakeshore LakeshoreOuachita Parish −11.5 pts 15% 31%
111 Sunset SunsetSt. Landry Parish −11.5 pts 16% 30%
112 LaplaceSt. John the Baptist Parish −11.9 pts 15.3% 29.7%
113 Jeanerette JeaneretteIberia Parish −12.0 pts 24% 21%
114 Map of Merrydale MerrydaleEast Baton Rouge Parish −12.1 pts 18.9% 25.8%
115 Arcadia ArcadiaBienville Parish −12.6 pts 14.3% 29.4%
116 Map of Abbeville AbbevilleVermilion Parish −12.7 pts 12.8% 30.7%
117 Vivian VivianCaddo Parish −13.0 pts 15.2% 27.7%
118 BrownsvilleOuachita Parish −13.4 pts 18% 24.2%
119 St. Martinville St. MartinvilleSt. Martin Parish −13.6 pts 15.8% 25.8%
120 Crowley CrowleyAcadia Parish −14.0 pts 15.8% 25.1%
121 Minden MindenWebster Parish −14.3 pts 18.5% 21.7%
122 Franklin FranklinSt. Mary Parish −14.5 pts 12% 27.9%
123 New Roads New RoadsPointe Coupee Parish −14.5 pts 19% 21%
124 Hammond HammondTangipahoa Parish −14.7 pts 17% 22.6%
125 Opelousas OpelousasSt. Landry Parish −14.7 pts 14.1% 25.4%
126 Springhill SpringhillWebster Parish −14.9 pts 11.7% 27.4%
127 MonticelloEast Baton Rouge Parish −15.0 pts 12% 27%
128 BawcomvilleOuachita Parish −15.0 pts 17% 22%
129 WoodmereJefferson Parish −15.2 pts 12% 26.5%
130 Map of Marksville MarksvilleAvoyelles Parish −15.2 pts 17% 21.5%
131 Marrero MarreroJefferson Parish −15.3 pts 13.9% 24.5%
132 AvondaleJefferson Parish −15.7 pts 16.5% 20.9%
133 Reserve ReserveSt. John the Baptist Parish −16.2 pts 15% 21.4%
134 Breaux Bridge Breaux BridgeSt. Martin Parish −16.5 pts 13.9% 22%
135 Winnsboro WinnsboroFranklin Parish −16.9 pts 14.2% 20.8%
136 Terrytown TerrytownJefferson Parish −17.2 pts 12% 22.4%
137 BakerCity of Baker School District −18.8 pts 11.4% 19.9%
138 Harvey HarveyJefferson Parish −19.3 pts 12% 18.3%
139 Amite City Amite CityTangipahoa Parish −19.4 pts 8.9% 21.1%
140 Map of Jackson JacksonEast Feliciana Parish −21.0 pts 14.6% 12.4%
141 Ferriday FerridayConcordia Parish −22.1 pts 9.2% 15.4%
142 Farmerville FarmervilleUnion Parish −22.5 pts 8% 16%
143 WaggamanJefferson Parish −24.0 pts 6% 15%
144 Map of Gardere GardereEast Baton Rouge Parish −24.4 pts 5% 15%
145 Map of Bogalusa BogalusaCity of Bogalusa School District −25.2 pts 3.4% 15.1%
146 Lake Providence Lake ProvidenceEast Carroll Parish −25.5 pts 6.7% 11.3%
147 Map of Bastrop BastropMorehouse Parish −25.6 pts 4.6% 13%
148 Homer HomerClaiborne Parish −26.1 pts 5.3% 11.4%
149 Jonesboro JonesboroJackson Parish −26.2 pts 4.4% 12%
150 Rayville RayvilleRichland Parish −26.4 pts 4.6% 11.5%
151 Delhi DelhiRichland Parish −26.5 pts 6.9% 9.1%
152 Grambling GramblingLincoln Preparatory School −27.0 pts 3% 12%
153 Tallulah TallulahMadison Parish −29.5 pts 2.5% 7.5%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Louisiana average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Louisiana only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

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