Ouachita Parish School Board on Thursday celebrated academic gains across the district and previewed how a new state accountability scale will change how scores are reported.

Marybeth Holzer, who leads accountability efforts, told the board the district outscored the state for the sixth consecutive year and that the district performance score rose 0.7 points. "We have a lot to celebrate," Holzer said, listing eight A schools including Sterlington High School, West Ouachita High School and West Monroe High School, 20 schools that improved their overall school performance scores and 15 top‑gain honorees.

Holzer emphasized subgroup gains as well: 89% of schools improved subgroup scores for students with disabilities, and the district was named a top‑15 district for English learners. "We were also named a top 15 district for our students with English language learners," she said, acknowledging staff who led those efforts.

But Holzer and Superintendent Todd Fremont cautioned that the state is moving to a new accountability framework, Grow, Achieve, and Thrive, and the numerical scale will look different even when underlying performance is unchanged. Using the district's recent data in a simulated conversion, Holzer said the district's prior score of 84.5 would convert to about 46.9 on the new scale. "That 46.9 may look like we're plummeting, but it's the same exact score," she said, urging the board to prepare communications for families and staff.

Board members pressed staff on support for schools that might drop under the simulated scores. Holzer said the district has identified supports and will prioritize resources for campuses most affected. Dr. Carrie Ferguson and other principals were recognized in the room for work on English learner outcomes.

The presentation included a list of top‑gain and improving schools and a breakdown of which campuses would gain or lose letter grades in the simulation; Holzer said the simulation used current test results and is not an official state determination. The district will produce informational materials, including a planned podcast, to explain the new system to the public.

Next steps: staff will continue targeted supports for schools flagged in simulations and will roll out communications to families about the change in scale and how to interpret future results.