Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released the LEAP results for the 2023-2024 school year, showing that students in the state have maintained recent gains in core academic subjects. The English/language arts (ELA) mastery rate for students in grades 3-8 improved by one point, while students with disabilities in grades 3-8 saw their overall mastery rate grow for the third consecutive year.
According to Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley, “Following consecutive years of improvement, these latest scores show students holding steady. With a need to see increased outcomes, however, these numbers substantiate our recent aggressive efforts to simply let teachers teach, provide students with high-dosage tutoring, refresh our school accountability model, and expand options for students to access high-quality schools.”
The LEAP results show specific improvements in certain grades and subjects. In ELA, students in grades 3, 5, 6, and 7 saw improvements, while grades 4 and 8 saw declines. In math, students in grades 4 and 7 improved, while grades 3 and 8 declined. In science, students in grades 3, 5, and 6 improved, while grades 4, 7, and 8 declined.
Notably, the percentage of students scoring “Unsatisfactory” – the lowest achievement level – decreased compared to last year in grades 3-12. Additionally, third graders grew two points in both ELA and science, while sixth graders grew two points in ELA and three points in science.
The overall mastery rate for students in grades 3-8 remained at 34%, while high school students maintained a mastery rate of 36%. The combined rate for all grades remained at 35%. These rates measure the percentage of students who scored Mastery or above on LEAP and are considered proficient.
LEAP measures proficiency in English/language arts, math, science, and social studies for grades 3-12. However, social studies results were not available this year as the LDOE is developing an assessment for Louisiana’s new Freedom Framework social studies standards. The operational social studies test will occur in the spring of 2025.
Student scores are reported on five levels: Unsatisfactory, Approaching Basic, Basic, Mastery, or Advanced. Students scoring Mastery and Advanced are considered proficient, or ready for the next grade level without the need for remediation or additional support.
The full LEAP results for the 2023-2024 school year are now available on the LDOE website.