Raising the bar for Louisiana students
Louisiana has adopted a revised school accountability system that raises expectations for students, simplifies how school performance is measured, and makes it easier for families and the public to understand how schools are preparing students for life after graduation.
It's named Grow. Achieve. Thrive. Schools and school systems are measured using a simple, easy-to-understand scorecard built around three expectations for every student:
- Grow: Students should make meaningful academic progress every year
- Achieve: Students should reach proficiency in key subjects
- Thrive: Students should graduate on time and be prepared for college, career, or service
Grow. Achieve. Thrive. replaced a system that had become too complex for the public to understand, set low expectations for improvement and readiness after high school, and placed too little value on career and college readiness.
Overview video
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Thomas Lambert explains how Grow. Achieve. Thrive. measures school performance. This recording is from June 2024.
What matters most in the new system
High expectations
The revised system raises expectations so students grow each year and reach proficiency. It sets a clear bar for success and helps schools focus on the learning that matters most.
Simple & transparent
The new system uses straightforward measures that the public can easily understand. Each indicator answers one clear question: what percent of students met the expectation?
Career & college readiness
The system rewards schools for preparing students for life after graduation. It values college credit, high-quality credentials, work-based learning, and service.
How schools are measured
Louisiana’s accountability system evaluates schools and systems using a clear set of expectations. Each measure answers a simple question:
- Grow: What percent of students made meaningful academic progress this year?
- Achieve: What percent of students reached proficiency or above?
- Thrive: (high schools) What percent of students graduated on time, reached a ready score on a national exam, and accelerated into college coursework, career training, or military service?
GROW: Are students improving each year?
The revised accountability system places a stronger emphasis on whether students are making meaningful academic progress each year, especially in the core areas of literacy and math. These are foundational skills for long-term success in school, work, and life.
The new Grow measure is simple and transparent:
- Every student who is not yet proficient is expected to move up half a level each year.
- Students at Mastery must continue to grow, and
- Students at Advanced must maintain that level.
The system also puts additional focus on students who need the most support. Schools are measured on:
- The percentage of all students who grow year over year in ELA and math.
- The percentage of students in the lowest-scoring 25 percent who grow year over year, measured separately in ELA and in math.
- The percentage of English learners making progress toward, or reaching, English proficiency on the state's English language proficiency test.
ACHIEVE: Are students mastering grade-level content?
The revised accountability system highlights the importance of students mastering essential academic skills. Every student should reach proficiency in the core subjects of English, math, science, and social studies.
The Achieve measure is simple and clear:
- Schools earn credit based on the percentage of students who score Mastery or above.
- Mastery is Louisiana’s expectation for being on grade level and prepared for the next step.
This focus helps ensure students are not only progressing, but actually reaching the level of understanding needed to succeed in high school, college, career pathways, or service.
NOTE: Schools without a graduation rate, which includes most elementary and middle schools, are only scored on Grow and Achieve. High schools, and any other school with a graduation rate, are also scored on Thrive.
THRIVE: Are students graduating ready for a career, college, or service?
The revised accountability system places a stronger focus on ensuring students leave high school prepared for life after graduation. Thriving means students have the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to succeed in a career, college, or service.
The Thrive measures are simple and transparent. High schools earn credit based on the percentage of students who:
- Graduate on time
- Demonstrate readiness based on a nationally recognized exam
- Accelerate into career training, college coursework, or military service
This approach values all pathways and recognizes that readiness looks different for every student. Whether a student plans to pursue higher education, start a career, or serve our nation, the Thrive measure captures what truly matters: students leaving high school ready for their next step.
The revised system helps ensure Louisiana diplomas carry value and signal genuine preparation for life beyond high school.
How the scorecard becomes a letter grade
Each measure on the scorecard is weighted equally. Schools earn a score on a 100-point scale for each indicator based on the percentage of students meeting the expectation. Those scores are then averaged to produce an overall rating.
This structure makes the new accountability system:
- Clear and transparent
- Aligned to student outcomes
- Focused on growth, proficiency, and readiness
- Easy for families and communities to understand
Resources to help you learn more
The LDOE provides resources to help families, educators, and community members understand Grow. Achieve. Thrive. These materials explain how the system works, what each measure means, and how scores become letter grades.
Still have questions?
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