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Public Education in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area

Reviewed by local, state, and national education policy experts, this series provides an in-depth look at the perceptions and realities of the public K-12 school systems in the Baton Rouge area. It is the first ever comprehensive regional study of the eleven public school districts in the Capital Region and  culminates with a summary of potential reforms to improve student achievement and school performance in our regional community.

Funding for this series was made available by The Campaign for a Greater Baton Rouge , a five-year regional economic development program that includes a Learning Community initiative as one of its seven major strategies to promote economic development in the Baton Rouge area.

View the entire 5-part series here.

1. An Overview of School Districts and Student Achievement: This first issue brief examines the standard indicators of school performance to provide a more contextualized understanding of the 11 districts in the Baton Rouge area. The paper begins with a brief overview of the school systems, addressing variations across and within districts. Data is presented on the number of students in private/public schools, demographic and socioeconomic composition, and performance scores. The analysis considers the measures that are used to rank districts in Louisiana in terms of student performance. Utilizing the District Performance Score (DPS), data has been adjusted to include consideration of socioeconomic indicators.
2. Where We Stand Relative to Our Peer Regions: The second issue brief expands upon the information from the first report. Data is presented to make comparisons between the 11 districts and the state and national averages. The analysis examines in detail how we “stack up” against other parishes, counties, and metropolitan areas with similar characteristics, paying particular attention to performance in the context of socio-economic factors. Benchmarked areas include other MSAs in Louisiana and throughout the southeastern U.S.
3. Factors That Impact Student Performance: The third issue brief broadens indicators beyond the DPS to address other aspects of student performance. The report discusses various factors that impact student performance, such as revenue levels and sources, expenditures per student, quality of facilities, the presence and retention of highly qualified teachers and principals, teacher compensation, and student-to-teacher ratio. This report also presents information on “non-school factors” that determine student performance, such as student mobility (i.e. frequency of residential moves). The analysis attempts to identify linkages between these factors and student performance, as measured by the DPS and other indicators.
4. Public Perceptions vs. Reality: The fourth issue brief draws upon public opinion research to analyze perceptions of student performance and school quality in our 11 districts. Public opinion polls are used throughout the Baton Rouge area to rate performance within and across school systems in this region. These opinions are compared with statistics and other data to assess their accuracy and potential impact on local participation and support for public schools. Questions are posed to gauge public understanding and support for potential solutions to perceived and real problems in K-12 education.
5. An Agenda for Reform: Drawing on findings in the previous briefs, the final report draws conclusions about the factors impacting student achievement, how the situation and status of Baton Rouge area students compare with other regions, and the immediate and long-term challenges we face. To conclude the research, the report outlines a series of recommendations for public education reform in the Baton Rouge area. Creative, practical, and durable solutions will be presented for Baton Rouge area citizens to consider as they assess issues and candidates for the September 2006 school board elections.