Louisiana students reached the highest overall Mastery+ rate in state history, according to 2026 LEAP assessment results released by the Louisiana Department of Education.

The results, which reflect testing from the 2025–2026 school year, show that 36% of students in grades 3–12 scored Mastery or Advanced. That marks a two-percentage-point increase from the previous year and the highest overall statewide performance on record for grades 3–12.

Red River Parish Public Schools also showed continued progress, increasing one point in its grades 3-8 and grades 3–12 Mastery+ rate from 2025 to 2026.

The Louisiana Educational Assessment Program, known as LEAP, measures student performance in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Students are scored at five achievement levels: Unsatisfactory, Approaching Basic, Basic, Mastery and Advanced. Students scoring Mastery or Advanced are considered to have met or exceeded state expectations.

According to LDOE, students across the state improved or maintained Mastery+ performance in 28 of the 31 grades and courses assessed. Statewide, grades 3–8 saw gains in math, science and social studies, while English language arts held steady. At the high school level, Mastery+ rates increased in civics, English II, U.S. history and Algebra I.

School system results also showed broad progress across Louisiana. LDOE reported that almost nine out of 10 school systems improved or maintained their grades 3–12 Mastery+ rate from 2025 to 2026.

The 2026 results are especially important because they are the first LEAP scores that will factor into School Performance Scores under Louisiana’s revised accountability system, Grow. Achieve. Thrive. The new system places a stronger focus on academic growth, proficiency in core subjects and readiness after graduation.

Red River Parish Schools entered the 2026 testing cycle with recent momentum. In 2025, the district was recognized as the top-improving school system in Louisiana for grades 3–8 Mastery+, posting a five-point improvement in that category. The district was also listed among top-improving systems for grades 3–12 Mastery+.

State officials said the latest LEAP results reflect years of sustained academic progress, while also noting that schools must continue building on that growth as expectations increase under the new accountability system.

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