Louisiana’s Learning Leap: Gains and Gaps

2026 LEAP Results

• 36 % of students met or exceeded state expectations – the highest rate ever recorded.
• Grades 3‑8: gains in math, science, and social studies; English remained flat.
• High school: improvement or stability in all subjects except a slight dip in one English course.

National Context

• Louisiana ranks 37th nationwide for Pre‑K‑12 education, climbing three consecutive years.
• NAEP score leapt from 49th to 32nd (2019‑2026), marking the state as one of the fastest improving.
• Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth’s Education Scorecard awarded Louisiana:
• 1st in reading growth
• 2nd in math growth

Impact of LEAP

• Mandated by federal law, LEAP gauges mastery of grade‑level standards.
• Scores influence school ratings, teacher evaluations, and graduation requirements.

Post‑Pandemic Gains

• Recent research indicates Louisiana students outpaced peers in reading and math growth after pandemic closures.
• Superintendent Cade Brumley highlighted national attention drawn to the state’s progress.

Key Drivers

• Reading gains attributed to science‑based instruction and targeted tutoring.
• Deputy Superintendent Jenna Chiasson emphasized a blend of accountability and support:
• Daily visits by literacy and numeracy teams to schools.

Top Performing Parishes

Other Parish Highlights

• Allen: 45 % English, 36 % math, 33 % science
• Beauregard: 41 %, 29 %, 30 %
• Calcasieu: 49 %, 42 %, 37 %
• Cameron: 55 %, 39 %, 33 %
• Jeff Davis: 39 %, 40 %, 33 %
• Vernon: 49 %, 36 %, 29 %

Equity Gaps

• Black students: 22 % met standards
• Hispanic students: 29 %
• White students: 49 %

Experts call for continued effort to close these disparities.