By Josh Beavers

In a remarkable turnaround from post-pandemic challenges, the Webster Parish School System has emerged as one of Louisiana’s most improved school districts, achieving a “B” letter grade in the latest performance scores released Wednesday.

“This is a true testament to their hard work, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Superintendent Johnny Rowland, Jr., celebrating the district’s achievements.

The results show widespread improvement across the district, with 13 out of 14 schools demonstrating growth, while one maintained its previous performance level. Six schools advanced to the next letter grade due to their improved scores.

Among Louisiana’s 69 public school districts, Webster Parish ranked third in overall improvement. Even more notably, among districts rated “A” or “B,” Webster Parish claimed the top spot for improvement.

The achievement is particularly significant given the district’s recent struggles with COVID-19. During the 2020-21 school year, nearly one-third of the district’s 5,500 students were enrolled in virtual learning, with half of those continuing remote education the following year. Regular quarantines of students and staff, following Region 7 Department of Health guidelines, further complicated the educational environment.

“We are most pleased with these results considering where we were just a few years ago as we were faced with the difficult challenges of life during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rowland noted. “It was not until the 2022-23 school year that we returned to any sense of normalcy in our school system.”