Jefferson Parish Public Schools Explained

Jefferson Parish Public Schools is a school district based in Harvey in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States.[1] [2] The district operates all district public schools in Jefferson Parish and covers the entire parish.[3] As of 2019 it had 50,582 students, making it the largest public school system in the state.[4]

History

In 1981 it had about 61,000 students and 75 schools. By 2012 it had 81 schools but about 46,000. That year there was a proposal to close seven schools.[5] Of the nine the Jefferson Parish School Board members, eight voted in favor of the closures and one voted against. The projected number of students to be moved was about 2,000.[6]

Demographics

In the 2014–2015 school year the district had 48,126 students, 1,467 students (3%) higher than the enrollment of the previous school year. There were a total of 5,634 English Language Learners (ELL) students as part of the overall student enrollment for 2014–2015, and that had increased by about 1,200 (28%). Most of the additional students for 2014-2015 were Hispanic, and of them, most were Honduran. According to ELL director Karina Castillo the East Bank had more of the new students than the West Bank.[7]

Academic performance

James K. Glassman of The Atlantic wrote in 1978 that the school system was of the same quality as that of New Orleans even though Jefferson Parish was wealthier than New Orleans; Glassman described Jefferson Parish as "one of the most poorly run rich counties in the United States."[8]

In October 2009, the release of annual school performance scores by the Louisiana Department of Education revealed that Jefferson Parish's public school system posted its largest-ever increase in performance score, to 78.4, though the performance score remained significantly below the state average of 91.[9] In 2011, according to state accountability rules, the district made a "D" grade. This increased to a "C" in 2012, and then a "B" on 2013, giving it the 36th highest score of the school districts in the state.[10] This score applies to the 2012–2013 school year.[11] Its Louisiana performance score was 85.9 of 150. In 2014 it continued having a "B" ranking, with its performance being 87.2 of 150.[12]

By 2012 the district established a policy stating that if a principal does not reach academic goals in three years, the principal will be removed. In 2012 15 principals lost their jobs over this policy.[13]

Operations

As of 2014 teachers who have large numbers of bilingual students and are fluent in either Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese may receive a $3,000 annual stipend and/or a $2,000 signing bonus.[14]

Previously the district had an administrative building in Marrero for people living in the West Bank of the parish. It was proposed for closure and consolidation into the Harvey headquarters in 2012.[15]

The teachers previously had a collective bargaining agreement but it expired in 2012.[16] The school board did not wish to renew it. The Teacher Voice Advisory Council was created in 2013.[17]

Previously the school district headquarters were in Gretna.[18]

Schools

K-12 schools

6-12 schools

Secondary schools

7-12 schools
6-12 schools(unzoned)

High schools

East Bank
West Bank
Alternative high schools, West Bank

Middle schools

East Bank
West Bank

K-8 schools

K-8 schools

East Bank:

West Bank:

Elementary schools

East BankZoned

Unzoned

West BankZoned

Unzoned

Kindergartens

Former schools

2023 closures:
2020 closures:
2012 closures:They were:[31]

External links

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. http://www.jppss.k12.la.us/district/home.aspx Home page
  2. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Harvey CDP, LA" (Archive). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  3. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson Parish, LA. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024-03-02. - Text list
  4. Web site: Jefferson Parish Schools Enrollment Numbers Increase to over 50,000 Students .
  5. Web site: Bronston, Barri. Jefferson Parish school closure plan finally coming to a vote . The Times Picayune. May 16, 2012 . 2020-05-28.
  6. Web site: Waller, Mark. School closure and consolidation plans up for debate next week would affect about 2,000 Jefferson Parish students. The Times Picayune. 2012-02-25. 2020-05-28.
  7. Calder, Chad. "Honduran students swell Jefferson Parish public school enrollment" (Archive). The New Orleans Advocate. December 19, 2014. Retrieved on September 6, 2015.
  8. Glassman, James K. "New Orleans: I Have Seen the Future, and It's Houston." The Atlantic. July 1978. Retrieved on November 12, 2016.
  9. The Times-Picayune Editorial Board. "Jefferson Parish schools make progress, but still have long way to go: an editorial." The Times-Picayune, October 15, 2009. Updated October 16, 2009.
  10. "Jefferson parish public schools go up whole letter grade in new ranking." WVUE Fox 8. November 1, 2013. Retrieved on April 7, 2014.
  11. Tan, Sarah. "Jefferson Parish public schools show improvement, receive B grade." The Times-Picayune. October 24, 2013. Retrieved on May 19, 2014.
  12. Web site: Williams, Jessica. In Jefferson, first A-rated open-enrollment schools emerge. The Times Picayune. 2014-10-21. 2020-05-27.
  13. Waller, Mark. "15 Jefferson Parish public school principals ousted under academic performance policy." The Times-Picayune. June 5, 2012. Updated June 6, 2012. Retrieved on May 19, 2014.
  14. Adelson, Jeff. "Jefferson schools to offer bonuses to bilingual teachers" (Archive). The New Orleans Advocate. September 4, 2014. Retrieved on September 6, 2015.
  15. Web site: Waller, Mark. Jefferson Parish school officials announce five schools for possible closure. The Times Picayune. 2012-01-18. 2020-05-28.
  16. Web site: Williams, Jessica. 3 key passages from the Jefferson Parish public schools' controversial union contract proposal . The Times Picayune. 2014-08-05. 2020-05-27.
  17. Web site: Williams, Jessica. Do Jefferson Parish school system officials really listen to teachers? . The Times Picayune. 2014-07-29. 2020-05-28.
  18. News: Jefferson Parish School Board Minutes. The Jefferson Democrat. Gretna, Louisiana. 1973-03-10. 4. Newspapers.com.
  19. Web site: Broach. Drew. Jefferson Parish is renaming two public schools for Tom Benson, Emmett Gilbert. The Times Picayune. 2019-05-25. 2024-03-02.
  20. Web site: Masson. Rob. Parents express concerns over JP school consolidation plan. Fox 8. 2020-02-06. 2024-03-02.
  21. Web site: Williams, Jessica. Kenner charter school makes 'sincere effort' to recruit black and low-income students, wins expansion . The Times Picayune. 2014-12-19. 2020-05-27.
  22. Web site: Waller, Mark. Overcrowding remedy in Jefferson Parish public schools could force hundreds of student transfers. The Times Picayune. 2012-01-31. 2020-05-28.
  23. Web site: Bartolotta. Devin. Pitre Elementary to be named after first African-American superintendent of JP schools: Isaac G. Joseph. WWL-TV. 2020-03-05. 2024-03-02.
  24. Web site: Bond. Kylee. Grace King, Helen Cox among schools to be consolidated in Jefferson Parish . WGNO. 2023-03-28. 2024-03-02.
  25. Web site: Fazio. Marie. The last days of Grace King High School, a Jefferson Parish institution with famous alumni. The Times-Picayune. 2023-05-29. 2023-12-24.
  26. Web site: Paterson. Blake. Jefferson Parish School Board votes to close schools, relocate students. The Times Picayune. 2023-04-05. 2024-03-02.
  27. Waller, Mark. "Bridge City Elementary renamed for its founding principal." The Times-Picayune. March 21, 2012. Retrieved on May 19, 2014.
  28. Web site: Paterson. Blake. Jefferson Parish School Board votes to close schools, relocate students. The Times Picayune. 2023-04-05. 2024-03-02.
  29. Web site: Bridge City parents, community members rally to save Mildred Harris Elementary from closing. Fox 8 Louisiana. 2023-03-31. 2024-03-02.
  30. Web site: Jefferson Parish school consolidation: Which students go to what school next school year. WWL-TV. 2020-03-04. 2024-03-02.
  31. Web site: Waller, Mark. Jefferson Parish School Board closes 7 schools . The Times Picayune. 2012-05-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20120520031323/http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/jefferson_parish_school_board_108.html. 2020-05-27. 2012-05-20.
  32. Web site: Bronston, Barri. Parents, teachers urge Jefferson Parish School Board to keep elementary school open. The Times Picayune. 2012-05-01. 2020-05-28.
  33. Web site: Waller, Mark. Kate Middleton Elementary School parents decry proposal to close it. The Times Picayune. 2012-01-25. 2020-05-28.
  34. Web site: Waller, Mark. Harvey residents worry about loss of St. Ville Academy. The Times Picayune. 2012-02-08. 2020-05-28.
  35. Web site: Bronston, Barri. Dozens oppose Jefferson Parish school closure plan at hearing. The Times Picayune. 2012-02-27. 2020-05-28.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jefferson Parish Public Schools".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.