Jefferson Parish Public Schools is a school district based in Harvey in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States.Home page . Jefferson Parish Public Schools. Retrieved on December 23, 2009. "501 Manhattan Blvd | Harvey, Louisiana 70058""2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Harvey CDP, LA" (Archive). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 18, 2014. The district operates all district public schools in Jefferson Parish and covers the entire parish. - Text list As of 2019 it had 50,582 students, making it the largest public school system in the state.

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. 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.

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.Calder, Chad. "Honduran students swell Jefferson Parish public school enrollment" (Archive). The New Orleans Advocate. December 19, 2014. Retrieved on September 6, 2015.

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."Glassman, James K. "New Orleans: I Have Seen the Future, and It's Houston." The Atlantic. July 1978. Retrieved on November 12, 2016.

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.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. 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."Jefferson parish public schools go up whole letter grade in new ranking." WVUE Fox 8. November 1, 2013. Retrieved on April 7, 2014. This score applies to the 2012–2013 school year.Tan, Sarah. "Jefferson Parish public schools show improvement, receive B grade." The Times-Picayune. October 24, 2013. Retrieved on May 19, 2014. 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.

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.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.

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.Adelson, Jeff. "Jefferson schools to offer bonuses to bilingual teachers" (Archive). The New Orleans Advocate. September 4, 2014. Retrieved on September 6, 2015.

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.

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

Previously the school district headquarters were in Gretna.

Schools

K-12 schools Grand Isle School (Grand Isle)

6-12 schools Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies -Metairie, LA

Secondary schools

7-12 schools Fisher Middle-High School - Jean Lafitte

6-12 schools (unzoned) Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy (Unincorporated, Jefferson)

High schools East Bank Alfred Bonnabel High School - Kenner East Jefferson High School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) Riverdale High School - (Unincorporated, Jefferson)

West Bank John Ehret High School - (Unincorporated, near Marrero) L. W. Higgins High School - (Unincorporated, Marrero) West Jefferson High School - (Unincorporated, Harvey)

Alternative high schools, West Bank Jefferson High School (Gretna) Strehle Community School (Avondale, Louisiana)

Vocational/Technical Public Schools, West Bank Cuillier, Joseph A. Sr. Career Center (Marero, Louisiana)

Middle schools

East Bank John Q. Adams Middle School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) T. H. Harris Middle School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) J.D. Meisler Middle School - (Unincorporated, Metairie)

West Bank Livaudais Middle School - (Unincorporated, Gretna address) Marrero Middle School - (Unincorporated, Marrero) Ruppel Academy for Advanced Studies - (Unincorporated, Gretna) Stella Worley Middle School - Westwego Jefferson RISE (Charter)- Gretna

K-8 schools K-8 schools:

East Bank: A. C. Alexander School (formerly an elementary school) - Kenner John James Audubon School (formerly an elementary school) - Kenner Tom Benson School (formerly Theodore Roosevelt Middle School until 2019) - Kenner Bissonet Plaza School (formerly an elementary school) - (Unincorporated, Metairie) Chateau Estates School (formerly an elementary school) - Kenner J.C. Ellis School (formerly an elementary school) - (Unincorporated, Metairie) - In 2014 it was ranked "A" under state accountability rules. Harahan School (formerly an elementary school) - Harahan Hazel Park Hilda Knoff School (formerly an elementary school) - (Unincorporated, River Ridge) Jefferson School (Jefferson) - Jefferson Elementary and Riverdale Middle were merged into a single school in 2020. Joseph C. Moscona School (Formerly an Elementary & Ella Donhonde School) Granville T. Woods School (formerly an elementary school) - Kenner Kenner Discovery Health Science Academy/KDHSA (Charter)- Kenner - By 2014 the school made attempts to recruit prospective students who were categorized as "at risk" (higher chance of failure) and black students. That year 58% of its students were deemed "at-risk". In 2014 the Jefferson Parish School Board approved allowing the school to expand. Its enrollment for 2015 was allowed to increase by 90 and that year it was allowed to include the 8th grade; the 7th grade was previously the highest. (Charter School)

West Bank: Cherbonnier/Rillieux School (Unincorporated, Waggaman) Douglass Community School (Gretna) Allen Ellender School (formerly a middle school) - (Unincorporated, Marrero) Estelle School, formerly Estelle Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Marrero) - In 2012 it had 1,125 students, making it above capacity and the parish's largest elementary school. That year the district made rezoning plans. Emmett Gilbert School of Excellence at Ford a.k.a. Emmett Gilbert K-8 (formerly Henry Ford Middle School) - (Unincorporated, Avondale) - Renamed in 2019 Congetta Trippe Janet School (formerly an elementary school) - (Unincorporated, Marrero) Lincoln School (formerly an elementary school) - (Unincorporated, Marrero) Harry S. Truman School (formerly a middle school) - (Unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Marrero) Woodland West School (formerly an elementary school) - (Unincorporated, Harvey) Woodmere School (formerly an elementary school) - (Unincorporated, Harvey)

Elementary schools

East Bank Zoned Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies - (Unincorporated, Metairie) Alice Birney Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) Bridgedale Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) John Clancy/Joseph Maggiore Elementary School - Kenner Greenlawn Terrace Elementary School - Kenner Green Park Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) Phoebe Hearst Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) - In 2014 it was ranked "A" under state accountability rules. Harold Keller Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) - In 2014 it was ranked "A" under state accountability rules. Rudolph Matas Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) Marie B. Riviere Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) - Bucktown - In 2014 it was ranked "A" under state accountability rules. Walter G. Schneckenburger Elementary School - Kenner - In 2014 it was ranked "A" under state accountability rules. Unzoned Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies - (Unincorporated, Metairie)

West Bank Zoned Judge Lionel R. Collins Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Marrero) Geraldine Boudreaux Elementary School - (Unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Terrytown) William Hart Elementary School - Gretna Shirley T. Johnson Gretna Park Elementary School - Gretna Isaac Joseph Elementary School (Westwego) In 2020, Myrtle C. Thibodeaux and Vic A. Pitre Elementary Schools were consolidated into Joseph Elementary, on the site of Pitre, and named after the first African-American superintendent of the school district. Leo E. Kerner Elementary School (formerly Jean Lafitte Elementary School) - Jean Lafitte - In 2011 it was ranked "D" under state accountability rules, and in 2014 it was ranked "A" under the same rules. McDonogh #26 Elementary School - Gretna Ella C. Pittman Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Harvey) Paul J. Solis Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Timberlane) Catherine Strehle Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Avondale) Terrytown Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Terrytown) Westwego Elementary School - Westwego

Unzoned Gretna No. 2 Academy for Advanced Studies - Gretna - Marrero

Kindergartens Harvey Kindergarten School (Unincorporated, Harvey)

Former schools 2023 closures Helen Cox High School - (Unincorporated, Harvey) Grace King High School - (Unincorporated, Metairie) Gretna Middle School - Gretna Joshua Butler Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Bridge City) Mildred S. Harris Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Bridge City) - The school was given its last name, after the founding principal of the school, in 2012. Members of the family of the founding principal and former student Nedra Cassard had campaigned to have the school renamed, and the district voted in favor of renaming. The school was founded in 1952.Waller, Mark. "Bridge City Elementary renamed for its founding principal." The Times-Picayune. March 21, 2012. Retrieved on May 19, 2014. It closed in 2023. There was an unsuccessful community campaign to try to salvage the school. Washington Elementary School - Kenner

2020 closures Myrtle C. Thibodeaux and Vic A. Pitre Elementary Schools were consolidated into Joseph Elementary. Fred Douglass Elementary School - Gretna - Students moved to Johnson Gretna Park and McDonough 26. Jefferson Elementary School (Unincorporated, Jefferson) - Students moved to Riverdale K-8, formerly a middle school. Miller Wall Elementary School

2012 closures They were: Ralph J. Bunche Accelerated Academy for High School Preparation - (Unincorporated, Metairie) - The closure plan called for the students to be moved to Bonnabel High. Homedale Elementary School - (Unincorporated, Harvey) - The closure plan called for students to be moved to McDonogh No. 26 Elementary.