U.S. NEWS REPORT RANKS THREE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS IN STATE’S TOP 25
Three Livingston Parish high schools have earned a Top 25 ranking among public high schools in Louisiana, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best High Schools report.
Those schools are Holden High School, ranked No. 13; Live Oak High School, listed at No. 15; and Springfield High School, which earned the No. 25 ranking.
The schools were ranked for their performance on state-required tests, graduation rates and how well they are preparing students for college.
“The highest ranked public schools in the 2023-2024 Best High Schools national rankings were those whose students achieved exceptional scores on state assessments for math, reading and science. These schools also had strong underserved student performance, college readiness and curriculum breadth, as well as graduation rates,” according to the U.S. News & World Report’s online announcement.
According to the report, Holden High earned a scorecard of 91.99, Live Oak High received a scorecard of 90.18 and Springfield High earned a scorecard of 84.71.
The remaining six high schools earned scorecards that ranked them in the state’s top 60 public schools. Those scorecards and rankings were as following: Walker High School, No. 32 with an 81.42 scorecard; Albany High School, No. 35 with a scorecard of 80.61; Doyle High School, No. 47 with a 74.76 scorecard; Maurepas High School, No. 54 with a 69.81 scorecard; French Settlement High School, No. 55 with a 68.99 scorecard; and Denham Springs High School, No. 59 with a 67.82 scorecard.
TRACY MCRAE NAMED ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
LPPS Assistant Superintendent Tracy McRae
Director of Curriculum Tracy McRae has been named Assistant Superintendent for Livingston Parish Public Schools.
McRae fills the position vacated by newly appointed Superintendent Jody Purvis.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to working with Superintendent Purvis, along with all stakeholders in our school system, to provide the best for our students,” McRae said. “I believe in setting high expectations and working collaboratively with others to reach those expectations.”
McRae has worked in the district’s central office since 2015, first as supervisor of instruction, through 2019, and then as director of curriculum.
McRae was a teacher, administrative assistant, assistant principal, and principal at Live Oak High School. During her tenure at that school, she led efforts to implement innovative programs that greatly advanced student academic performance. She received Livingston Parish Teacher of the Year in 2002, and twice earned Livingston Parish Principal of the Year in 2010 and 2015.
She is a 2014 recipient of the Colin Powell Service Award and a graduate of the Louisiana Superintendents Academy, 2021; and LSBA Level Up for Future Superintendents program, 2022.
McRae earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1986, a master’s degree in education from LSU in 1996, and a master’s plus-30 degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2003.
LIVE OAK PRINCIPAL NAMED NEW CURRICULUM DIRECTOR
LPPS Director of Curriculum Beth Jones
Live Oak High School Principal Beth Jones has been named the new director of curriculum for Livingston Parish Public Schools.
Jones fills the position vacated by Tracy McRae, who was recently named the district’s new assistant superintendent.
Jones has served as principal of Live Oak High School for nine years. During her tenure, the school has maintained a Grade A School Performance Score, earning the top score in the state amongst non-select enrollment schools.
She also served as assistant principal of Live Oak High School for 10 years, from 2005 to 2015, and taught Algebra and Calculus at the school for seven years, from 1998 to 2005.
“It is an honor to be named Director of Curriculum for Livingston Parish. I am committed to fostering an educational environment where innovation meets excellence, ensuring that every student’s learning journey is enriched and enhanced,” Jones said.
Jones is a current semi-finalist for the Louisiana Department of Education’s 2025 Principal of the Year award.