What share of students in Louisiana are proficient in math?

In 2024, 21% of eighth graders in Louisiana public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (9th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 27% in reading, compared with 23% and 27% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Louisiana, United States: official figures

83.1% of public high school students in Louisiana graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 12th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

83.1%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

216

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

267

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$15,581

FY2024

Public school enrollment

708,190

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

27.8%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Louisiana rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Louisiana was 83.1% in 2021-22, compared with 72% in 2011-12 and 80.1% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Louisiana?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Louisiana was 77.5% for economically disadvantaged students, 57.0% for students with disabilities and 46.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Louisiana?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Louisiana was 80.3% for Black, 69.2% for Hispanic and 88.0% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Louisiana score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Louisiana averaged 216 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, up from 210 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 40% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Louisiana score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Louisiana averaged 257 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 24th highest among the 50 states and DC, the same as 257 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 27% scored at or above Proficient and 34% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Louisiana score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Louisiana averaged 235 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC, up from 231 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 35% scored at or above Proficient and 25% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Louisiana score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Louisiana averaged 267 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 11th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 272 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 21% scored at or above Proficient and 46% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Louisiana spend per student?

Public school systems in Louisiana spent $15,581 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Louisiana going up?

Current spending per pupil in Louisiana rose from $11,755 in fiscal 2019 to $15,581 in fiscal 2024, up 32.5% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 6.4%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Louisiana spend school money on?

Of the $15,581 spent per pupil in Louisiana in fiscal 2024, $8,495 went on instruction and $6,222 on support services; salaries and wages came to $7,755 per pupil and employee benefits $3,650.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Louisiana come from?

Public school systems in Louisiana received $12.4 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 19.2% from the federal government, 33.7% from the state and 47.1% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Louisiana spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Louisiana was $11.1 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $9.8 billion was current spending and $1.1 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $3.7 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Louisiana?

708,190 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana in fall 2023, down 0.3% on fall 2019 (710,439) and down 0.5% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Louisiana?

Public schools in Louisiana had 41,110 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 17.5 pupils per teacher, joint 10th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Louisiana in fall 2019: 18.4).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Louisiana have a college degree?

27.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Louisiana, about 868,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 4th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.4 percentage points on 2021 (26.4%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Louisiana have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 10.5% of adults 25 and over in Louisiana had a graduate or professional degree and 7.4% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Louisiana did not finish high school?

88.2% of adults 25 and over in Louisiana had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 11.8% without one; that share is 7th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Louisiana compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Louisiana ranks 38 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
35	Washington	83.6%
36	Minnesota	83.6%
37	Rhode Island	83.3%
38	Louisiana	83.1%
39	Vermont	82.8%
40	Colorado	82.3%
41	South Dakota	82.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Louisiana ranks 29 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
26	New Jersey	78.7%
27	Georgia	78.6%
28	Maryland	77.9%
29	Louisiana	77.5%
30	Utah	77.5%
31	Ohio	76.8%
32	Maine	76.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Louisiana ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
14	Ohio	216
15	Washington	216
16	Maryland	216
17	Louisiana	216
18	Idaho	216
19	Hawaii	216
20	Rhode Island	216

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Louisiana ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
22	Kentucky	258
23	Rhode Island	258
24	New York	257
25	Louisiana	257
26	Hawaii	257
27	North Dakota	257
28	Vermont	257

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Louisiana ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
33	Alabama	236
34	Michigan	235
35	Missouri	235
36	Louisiana	235
37	Vermont	235
38	New York	234
39	Maryland	234

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Louisiana ranks 42 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
39	South Carolina	268
40	Oregon	268
41	Florida	267
42	Louisiana	267
43	Arkansas	266
44	Nevada	265
45	Oklahoma	264

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Louisiana ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
40	Mississippi	21.6%
41	Alaska	21.5%
42	Florida	21.1%
43	Louisiana	20.8%
44	Nevada	20.2%
45	District of Columbia	20.1%
46	Arkansas	19.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Louisiana ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
25	South Carolina	40.3%
26	Kansas	40.1%
27	South Dakota	39.9%
28	Louisiana	39.6%
29	Washington	39.5%
30	Iowa	39.5%
31	Rhode Island	39.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Louisiana ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
28	Colorado	$15,908
29	Georgia	$15,833
30	West Virginia	$15,640
31	Louisiana	$15,581
32	Kansas	$15,558
33	South Carolina	$15,060
34	Nevada	$14,812

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Louisiana ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
22	Maryland	+33.4%
23	New Jersey	+32.8%
24	Mississippi	+32.7%
25	Louisiana	+32.5%
26	Rhode Island	+32.0%
27	North Carolina	+31.8%
28	Florida	+31.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Louisiana ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
16	Georgia	48.6%
17	Massachusetts	48.1%
18	New Jersey	47.4%
19	Louisiana	47.1%
20	Rhode Island	47.1%
21	Maryland	46.5%
22	South Carolina	44.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Louisiana ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
6	Florida	18.3
7	Alaska	18.3
8	Alabama	17.9
9	Louisiana	17.5
10	Idaho	17.5
11	Washington	17.2
12	Michigan	16.7

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Louisiana ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
8	Texas	+0.7%
9	Alabama	+0.6%
10	Florida	+0.5%
11	Louisiana	-0.3%
12	Nebraska	-0.3%
13	Montana	-0.4%
14	Alaska	-0.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Louisiana ranks 48 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
45	Oklahoma	29.3%
46	Nevada	28.5%
47	Kentucky	27.9%
48	Louisiana	27.8%
49	Arkansas	27.1%
50	Mississippi	27.0%
51	West Virginia	24.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Louisiana ranks 7 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
4	New Mexico	12.1%
5	New York	12.0%
6	Mississippi	12.0%
7	Louisiana	11.8%
8	Kentucky	11.0%
9	Arkansas	10.7%
10	Alabama	10.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Louisiana: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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