(The Center Square) — Following the release of Louisiana’s latest LEAP test scores last week, recently shared data shows which school systems outperformed their peers — and which made the most year-over-year progress — despite statewide stagnation in student achievement.

The Louisiana Department of Education released a breakdown of the highest-performing school districts for third grade through 12th, measured by the percentage of students scoring mastery or higher on core subject assessments. The top system was Ascension Parish, where 53% of students reached mastery, followed by West Feliciana Parish at 52% and Central Community Schools at 50%.

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“Louisiana teachers are the driving force behind the steady, sustained progress of the past five years,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley in a news release. “While today’s results show continued movement in the right direction, they also underscore the challenges ahead. We must accelerate efforts to support educators, raise expectations for students, and maintain our laser focus on academic achievement.”

Plaquemines (49%), Zachary Community (48%), Cameron (45%), and St. Tammany (45%) also landed in the top tier of achievers. Vermilion, St. Charles, DeSoto, Lafayette, Lincoln, and Livingston parishes all followed closely behind with scores between 43% and 45%.

Mastery-level scores indicate students are ready for the next grade level without the need for remediation — a bar that just 35% of Louisiana high schoolers met statewide this year, according to the department’s earlier summary.

Meanwhile, a second list released by the state identifies the most improved systems this year. Caldwell and East Carroll parishes saw the greatest improvement, with four-point gains in their overall mastery scores for grades 3-12. Jackson, Rapides, St. John the Baptist, and the Monroe City School District all improved by three percentage points.

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Other parishes with notable improvements included Assumption, Calcasieu, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Red River, Tangipahoa, Union and Orleans — each with a two-point gain.

Overall, 74% of districts maintained or improved their performance in the 2024–25 school year. Improvement was most pronounced in third grade through eighth, where 80% of districts saw gains, according to the department.