Average
#978 of 1,288 schools in LA
Union Central Elementary School
Elementary School · Caldwell Parish · Columbia, LA
A Caldwell Parish elementary school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
P.O. Box 1439, Columbia, LA 71418
- Math 27% vs LA 36% (2025)
- Reading 30% vs LA 43% (2025)
- 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Union Central Elementary School score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
2025 LEAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. LA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 28% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 48% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from LA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
70.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Union Central Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated1,244/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$31,975
Median home value
$89,700
Median rent
$696/mo
College educated
8.8%
Homeownership
66.4%
Poverty rate
32.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 71418; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Caldwell Parish
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #5 of 5
- District spending per student
- $17,637NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 30.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Union Central Elementary School is listed in Caldwell Parish; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Union Central Elementary School
Union Central Elementary School is a public elementary school in Columbia, LA, part of Caldwell Parish, serving approximately 224 students in grades 4th-5th with a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #978 of 1,288 schools in LA. State assessment records show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Union Central Elementary School
What grades does Union Central Elementary School serve?
Union Central Elementary School serves students in grades 4th through 5th.
How many students attend Union Central Elementary School?
Union Central Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 224 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Union Central Elementary School is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Union Central Elementary School rank in LA?
Union Central Elementary School ranks #978 of 1,288 schools in LA.
What is Union Central Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Union Central Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Union Central Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Union Central Elementary School has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Union Central Elementary School a charter school?
No, Union Central Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Union Central Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Union Central Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Union Central Elementary School?
70.1% of students at Union Central Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 4th – 5th
- Enrollment
- 224
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Caldwell Parish
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.0%
- Phone
- (318) 649-2569
- Area population (ZIP 71418)
- 5,351
- Area median age
- 34.9
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 LEAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 LEAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 LEAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 LEAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 71418; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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