Best Schools in Metairie, Louisiana

Metairie's public school system spans 18 ranked schools across elementary, middle, and high school levels. The average school scores 6.7 out of 10, and exactly half — 9 of 18 schools — clear the 7-point threshold. That distribution matters: parents here have genuine high-performers to pursue, but school quality varies enough that which school a student attends makes a significant difference.

The top of the range stands out. Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies leads all 18 schools with a 9.5 rating, the highest in the city by a clear margin. Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies follows at 9.1, giving Metairie two elite elementary options for families who can access them. The pipeline extends through every grade band: Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies earns an 8.7 at the high school level, meaning students who enter the advanced academies track can stay in high-performing schools from elementary through graduation. J.C. Ellis School (8.2) and J.D. Meisler Middle School (8.0) round out a top five that covers every level.

The "Academy for Advanced Studies" designation defines Metairie's highest-rated schools. These are specialized advanced programs, not standard neighborhood assignments. Parents interested in them should research the enrollment process and any eligibility requirements well ahead of time — the timeline is typically earlier than most families expect.

For families zoned outside the top tier, Metairie's 6.7 city average reflects a place where solid options exist but quality is uneven. The lower half of the 18 schools scores below that mark, so individual ratings matter more than the citywide figure when evaluating specific options. Metairie rewards early legwork: the advanced-studies track is the clearest path to the city's strongest academic outcomes, and accessing it requires planning that starts well before a child reaches elementary school.