LOUISIANA STUDENTS MAINTAIN LEAP GAINS MADE OVER PAST TWO YEARS

ELA mastery rate improves for students in grades 3-8, students with disabilities in grades 3-8 improve overall mastery rate for third consecutive year

(BATON ROUGE, LA) - The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released LEAP results for the 2023-2024 school year today. Statewide data shows Louisiana students maintained recent gains made on the state assessment that measures proficiency in core academic subjects. The English/language arts (ELA) mastery rate for students in grades 3-8 improved by one point and students with disabilities in grades 3-8 grew their overall mastery rate for the third consecutive year.

"Following consecutive years of improvement, these latest scores show students holding steady," said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. "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."

Results from the 2024 LEAP assessments show:

• In ELA, students in grades 3-8 improved their previous overall mastery rate by one point. ELA mastery rates improved in grades 3, 5, 6, and 7 and declined in grades 4 and 8.
• In math, students in grades 3-8 maintained their previous overall mastery rate. Math mastery rates improved in grades 4 and 7, remained the same in grades 5 and 6, and declined in grades 3 and 8.
• In science, students in grades 3-8 maintained their previous overall mastery rate. Science mastery rates improved in grades 3, 5, and 6 and declined in 4, 7, and 8.
• The percent of students scoring "Unsatisfactory" - the lowest achievement level - decreased when compared to last year in grades 3-12.
• The overall mastery rate for students with disabilities improved in 3-8 for the third consecutive year.
• Third graders grew two points in both ELA and science.
• Fourth graders dipped three in ELA and two in science, while growing two in math.
• Fifth graders grew three points in ELA and one in science.
• Sixth graders grew two in ELA and three in science.
• Students in grades 4 and 7 grew in math for the third consecutive year. Fourth graders improved by two points and seventh graders by one.
• Eighth graders dropped one in both ELA and math and three in science.

Louisiana's overall mastery rate for students in grades 3-8 is 34, high school is 36, and the combined rate is 35. All of those percentages match totals from the previous year. The mastery rate measures the percentage of students who scored Mastery or above on LEAP and are considered proficient. LEAP results for the 2023-2024 school year are now available on the LDOE website.

LEAP measures proficiency in English/language arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies for grades 3-12. Social studies results were not available this year because 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.