Jeff Davis Parish schools made a strong showing on state school performance scores, according to the parish’s top education official.

“We had more schools than ever before move up their growth rate and school performance letter grades,” Superintendent John Hall said

The parish also increased its total school performance score rating, outscoring the state average of 77.1. The parish’s school performance score increased .6 of a point from last year’s 85.3 to 85.9 with the district maintaining its B rating, based on the scores released earlier this week by the state.

“Jeff Davis Parish is extremely proud of all of our schools,” Curriculum Supervisor and District Test Coordinator Rory Myers. “These results are reflective of the hard work their students, teachers, administrators and support staff have put in over the last few years. They look forward to continuing this growth and providing the best education possible for their children.”

The performance scores are based on students’ scores on state assessments and ACT results as well as attendance and dropout rates. Letter grades are determined by the current baseline performance score for schools and the current performance score for school districts.

Elton Elementary, Fenton Elementary and Lake Arthur Elementary schools were recognized as 2022 Top Gains honorees. Welsh High School was recognized as both a 2022 Top Gains Honoree and a 2022 Equity Honoree.

To earn a Top Gains, students must show exceptional student growth on the tests. Equity Honoree schools recognize schools for excellence in educating students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students.

Four other schools reported positive letter grade changes, including Elton Elementary, which is returning to a B status. Fenton Elementary, Lake Arthur Elementary and Welsh-Roanoke Junior High are now B schools.

Welsh High School is an A school with Jeff Davis Parish’s highest school performance score of 101.8.

The letter grade is determined by the current baseline performance score for schools and the current performance score for school districts.

In addition to these top honors, Jeff Davis Parish is seeing strong results across the district in subcategories.

Jennings Elementary is up almost 12 points from last year and has an A in growth which shows how well the school did in reaching set goals.

Welsh Elementary remains a B school and is no longer under any labels.

Elton High School and Jennings High School have some of the highest graduation rates and strength of diploma indices in the district.

Hathaway High School continues to produce very strong ACT scores, and Lake Arthur High School and Lacassine High School show strong results in credits earned by students as they enter high school which is a safeguard against high school dropouts.

“Now that we are getting back to pre-COVID numbers, the hard work will continue,” Hall said. “I am proud of all of our teachers in Jeff Davis Parish. Our teachers are committed to providing the highest level of instruction to our students while not forgetting how important an overall positive school experience is for each student.

“I am also proud of the administrators and supervisors who support our classrooms with a high level of care and attention that is needed to support the critically important job of a teacher.”