St. James Parish Public School System Revenue and Competitors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: GAYNELL ALBERT ST. JAMES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2012 St. James Parish School Board holds Retreat in New Orleans, Louisiana On Tuesday, January 10, 2012 the St. James Parish School Board convened at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana to engage in a Retreat to discuss pertinent business as well as make decisions that would affect the future of this school district. The Retreat lasted through Thursday, January 12, 2012. The Board voted 6 to 1 to approve the Gramercy Elementary School Magnet pending Justice Department approval. Also, the Board approved, 6 to 1, the acquisition of the Webre-Steib Plantation property for the new St. James High School football stadium and possible St. James High School pending clear title and legal review. During the Retreat, the board discussed the merging of the Career and Technology Center and the Science and Math Academy as well as the closing of Romeville Elementary School. After discussion, these items were tabled for further discussion after more information is acquired. It was unanimously carried to request that Perry Segura, Architect, begin compiling information regarding potential turf projects for the Lutcher High and St. James High athletic fields. It was unanimously carried to approve two additional teacher professional development days for Common Core Standard training on May 29, 2012 and May 30, 2012. These two days are $200.00 days for teachers. The Advocate newspaper recognized Fifth Ward Elementary for motivating students to read! (Click here to read the newspaper article) The Louisiana Department of Education released school and district performance scores this week. The release is a standard release primarily based on Spring 2011 test scores (LEAP and iLEAP). This year there is a change in reporting. The Governor’s Accountability Commission selected to release scores using letter grades rather than stars as in the past. St. James Parish Schools district performance score is continuing to rise. This year the district increased 0.8 points scoring 94.8. Using the new state labeling system, St. James Parish fared a “C”. By the state’s prior definition, we remain a two star district. The chart below shows the scores over time (76.2 to 94.8). (Click here to read more) LHS RECEIVES COLLEGE READINESS RECOGNITION Lutcher High school has received the “2011 College Readiness Award” from the Louisiana ACT Council for increasing the number of students taking the ACT Assessment over the past five years and significantly increasing their level of achievement and college readiness. The Louisiana ACT Council is comprised of secondary and postsecondary educators who advise ACT, Inc. on the utilization of ACT programs and services in Louisiana schools and colleges. ACT, Inc. is the not-for-profit organization that provides assessment, research, information, and program management services in the broad areas of education and workforce development and the publisher of the ACT Assessment. The ACT Assessment is the college admissions test that is used and accepted by all colleges nationwide and throughout Louisiana. In 2011, over 95% of Louisiana students took the ACT which is the predominant college admissions and readiness achievement test in Louisiana. According to Karen L. Pennell, Assistant Vice President and ACT Southwest Regional Manager: “The Louisiana ACT Council wanted to recognize those Louisiana high schools that have made significant strides in increasing the college readiness of their graduates as demonstrated by their ACT score increases over the past five years. This can only happen as a result of the high school’s faculty and staff efforts and the dedication of Lutcher High School students and parents to focus on college readiness and raise the level of college readiness for all students. Only 29 high schools in Louisiana were honored for their superior level of accomplishment. These outstanding Louisiana high schools should be proud of their faculty, staff, and students!”