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St. James Parish

Louisiana · Public K-12

Public K-12 schools in St. James Parish number 6 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 532 students per campus. By level, that breaks down as 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.

7-year change in St. James Parish

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,194
-722 (-18%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
6
-3 (-33%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
36%
was 35%
% Hispanic
2%
was 2%
% Black
61%
was 63%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
6
1 districts
Enrollment
3,194
NCES CCD
Median income
$65,531
Above Louisiana avg
Free/reduced lunch
63.8%
Below Louisiana avg
Elementary
2
1,021 students
Middle
2
672 students
High
2
1,501 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
St. James Parish Public Schools
3,194 students · 1 district in St. James Parish

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of St. James Parish residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
50%
Hispanic
2%
Black
47%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
36%
Hispanic
2%
Black
61%
Asian
0%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
19.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.1% under 18

Test scores in St. James Parish

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Louisiana state average: 42.0%.

See all 6 schools in St. James Parish ranked by score →

All schools (6)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Lutcher High SchoolLutcherHigh07-12908·
Paulina Elementary SchoolPaulinaElementaryPK-03657·
St. James High SchoolVacherieHigh07-12593·
Gramercy Elementary SchoolGramercyMiddle04-06403·
Vacherie Elementary SchoolVacherieElementaryPK-03364·
Sixth Ward Elementary SchoolVacherieMiddle04-06269·

Cities in St. James Parish

Vacherie3 schoolsGramercy1 schoolLutcher1 schoolPaulina1 school

About St. James Parish

St. James Parish is a rural-scale Louisiana county of about 19,528 residents, home to 6 public schools and roughly 3,194 students.

Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $65,531 a year, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 8%. That income level is 17% higher than the Louisiana median.

Looking at the level breakdown, St. James Parish covers 2 elementary schools (1,021 students), 2 middle schools (672), and 2 high schools (1,501).

The largest single district in St. James Parish is St. James Parish Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 3,194 students.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,194 students, declined 18% from the 3,916 reported in SY 2017-18. St. James Parish now counts 6 public schools, down from 9 in SY 2017-18.

On this page, the community for St. James Parish discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve St. James Parish?
There are 6 public K-12 schools in St. James Parish, Louisiana, with a combined enrollment of about 3,194.
How many high schools are in St. James Parish?
St. James Parish, Louisiana has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 1,501 students.
How many middle schools are in St. James Parish?
St. James Parish, Louisiana has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 672 students.
How many elementary schools are in St. James Parish?
St. James Parish, Louisiana has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,021 students.
What is the largest school district in St. James Parish?
St. James Parish Public Schools is the largest school district in St. James Parish, serving approximately 3,194 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
What is the population of St. James Parish?
St. James Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 19,528, with a median age of 41. About 22.1% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in St. James Parish?
Median household income in St. James Parish is $65,531, above the Louisiana average of $55,944. About 8.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of St. James Parish?
Approximately 19.5% of adults 25 and older in St. James Parish hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in St. James Parish qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 63.8% of students in St. James Parish public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Louisiana county average of 69.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in St. James Parish schools?
Across St. James Parish public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.7 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data