The results are in for the first statewide year of Louisiana’s new teacher evaluation system, and most Southwest Louisiana classroom teachers were graded effective.

In the final evaluation ratings released Tuesday by the Department of Education, 45 percent of Calcasieu Parish classroom teachers were ranked as “highly effective,” while 3 percent were determined to be “ineffective.” There are two categories in the middle: Calcasieu had 50 percent of its teachers rated “effective proficient” and 2 percent “effective emerging.”

In the state, 32 percent of classroom teachers were ranked as highly effective, 57 percent were effective proficient, 8 percent were effective emerging and 4 percent were ineffective.

All Southwest Louisiana parishes scored above the statewide average in the “highly effective” category.

CPSB Superintendent Wayne Savoy said he was pleased with the results.

“I certainly want us to continue to improve — that’s what we do in Calcasieu,” Savoy said Tuesday. “Our objective is always to be above the state in any category we’re compared to.”

Compared to the old system, close to 99 percent of educators were ranked satisfactory.

Compass, which is the new evaluation system, was passed by state legislators in 2010 and supported by Gov. Bobby Jindal.

The new evaluation system grades about one-third of classroom teachers on student performance improvements on standardized tests, while all teachers are rated through classroom observations and whether they reach specific student learning targets.

“Overall, the evaluation results of teachers, principals and counselors really mirror the progress and achievements of districts,” Superintendent John White told reporters during a conference call Tuesday. “This is all an effort to get to better student performance.”

All parishes rated the same or better than the statewide average in the ineffective category except in Jefferson Davis Parish, which ranked a percentage point lower than the state average.

Other Southwest Louisiana parishes:

In Allen Parish, 48 percent of classroom teachers were ranked as highly effective; 44 percent were effective proficient; 3 percent were effective emerging; and 4 percent were ineffective.

In Beauregard Parish, 55 percent of classroom teachers were ranked as highly effective; 41 percent, effective proficient; 2 percent, effective emerging; and 2 percent, ineffective.

In Cameron Parish, 50 percent of classroom teachers were ranked as highly effective; 41 percent, effective proficient; 5 percent, effective emerging; and 4 percent, ineffective.

In Jefferson Davis Parish, 42 percent of classroom teachers were ranked as highly effective; 47 percent, effective proficient; 5 percent, effective emerging; and 5 percent, ineffective.

In Vernon Parish, 38 percent of classroom teachers were ranked as highly effective; 53 percent, effective proficient; 7 percent, effective emerging; and 2 percent, ineffective.

• • •

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The results are in for the first statewide year of Louisiana’s new teacher evaluation system