ZACHARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Zachary Community School District (ZCSD) ranks among the top five performing school districts in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) recently released the 2023-2024 school and district performance scores, awarding ZCSD an “A” letter grade for its exceptional achievements.

LDOE 2024 Recognitions

Top Gains Honorees

The following schools in the Zachary Community School District earned the prestigious Top Gains Award, which recognizes schools achieving an “A” progress index score of 90 or greater:

• Northwestern Elementary School
• Rollins Place Elementary School
• Copper Mill Elementary School
• Northwestern Middle School

Opportunity Honoree

• Zachary High School: Recognized as an Opportunity Honoree, an award given to schools ranking in the 90th percentile or higher for subgroups such as special education, English learners, and economically disadvantaged students. These schools must also meet all benchmarks without requiring urgent interventions.

Performance Highlights

ZCSD demonstrated strong academic performance through the Assessment Index, which evaluates mastery-level achievement on End-of-Course (EOC) tests. In 2023, 44% of Zachary students achieved mastery or higher on the LEAP test, placing the district fifth in the state.

Changes in Accountability Metrics

The current high school performance score includes:

• 12.5% for performance
• 12.5% for growth

However, under the LDOE’s revised accountability system—effective 2026—metrics will shift as follows:

• 33%: Performance (assessment outcomes)
• 42%: Growth
• 25%: Graduation rate and college/workforce readiness

For K-8 schools, the updated system will emphasize:

• 46%: Achievement (performance)
• 54%: Growth in Math and English

Preparing for Future Challenges

With the revised system emphasizing growth, high schools will see 75% of their rankings tied to the LEAP25 EOC tests across seven key subjects: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, English I, English II, U.S. History, and Biology.

To address these changes, ZCSD is developing a five-year strategic plan to enhance both growth and performance district-wide. Central to this effort is the implementation of the LEADS program, a robust teacher evaluation and support initiative focused on individual student progress toward mastery.

By prioritizing innovation and strategic planning, the Zachary Community School District continues to set a high standard for education in Louisiana.

To learn more about Zachary’s schools, please visit http://www.zacharyschools.org/.

Click below for a complete list of schools located in the Zachary Community School District
http://www.zacharyschools.org/schools/