Acadia, Iberia, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion parishes in Acadiana have shown improvement in their annual school performance scores, according to data released by the Louisiana Department of Education. The district as a whole has improved by 2.5 points from the previous year, while several individual schools have seen significant gains as well.

Among the parishes, Vermilion Parish stands out as it has achieved an A-ranked district status, moving up from being a B-ranked district last year. This accomplishment places Vermilion Parish among the highest-scoring school systems in the state. Other parishes, including Acadia and Iberia, have maintained their B-ranked district status, while St. Landry and St. Martin parishes continue to hold their C-ranked district designations.

The positive trend of improvement is not limited to Acadiana alone, as the statewide performance score for Louisiana has shown a 1.4-point increase year over year. State Superintendent Cade Brumley recognizes the resilient efforts of the state's educators and stakeholders, acknowledging that more work remains to further enhance academic outcomes for students.

Within Acadiana, several schools have made notable progress. In Acadia Parish, the school system has seen one of the most significant improvements in the state, with an increase of 4.1 points from the previous year. St. Landry Parish has witnessed outstanding growth in two K-8 schools, with Washington Elementary improving by 13.9 points and Grand Coteau Elementary increasing by 13.5 points. Westgate High School in Iberia Parish has also demonstrated commendable improvement, with a 13-point increase from the previous year.

Additionally, E.J. Sam Accelerated School in Lafayette Parish has emerged as one of the state's most improved alternative schools, showing an impressive growth of 16.9 points. Lafayette Parish's Early College Academy stands as the second highest-scoring high school in the state, behind Jefferson Parish's Haynes Academy.

Lafayette Parish Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr. expressed pride in the dedicated efforts of educators, students, parents, and the community, emphasizing that the consistent growth observed year after year is a testament to their commitment.

While many schools in Lafayette Parish have improved their performance scores, only a few have seen changes in their letter grades. Edgar Martin Middle School has shown the greatest improvement, increasing by 9.1 points and elevating from a B-ranked school to an A-ranked school. Evangeline Elementary, Northside High School, and Southside High have also exhibited progress, though they have maintained their C and A-ranked statuses respectively.

On the other hand, some schools in Lafayette Parish have experienced slight decreases in their performance scores. Baranco Elementary School has seen the largest decrease, dropping 6.2 points and transitioning from a C-ranked school to a D-ranked school. Martial Billeaud Elementary and Bob Lilly Elementary (formerly Carencro Heights) both lost four points, resulting in a change from an A-ranked school to a B-ranked school and from a B-ranked school to a C-ranked school, respectively.

Despite these fluctuations, several schools have managed to maintain their letter rankings. Woodvale Elementary and Ernest Gallet Elementary have lost points but remain A-ranked schools. Carencro Middle remains a C-ranked school despite a small decrease in its performance score. J. Wallace James Elementary, Green T. Lindon Elementary, and J.W. Faulk Elementary have seen negligible changes and continue to maintain their respective letter rankings - A, B, and D.

These improvements and challenges reflect a continued commitment to enhancing the academic success of students in Acadiana. As educators, administrators, and stakeholders move forward, they are determined to build on the progress made and address areas that require additional focus.