Louisiana School Doubles Reading Proficiency in Two Years

Lincoln Preparatory School in Grambling, Louisiana just proved that the right reading strategies can double student success in record time.

Over two school years, the charter school increased the percentage of kindergarten through third-grade students reading at or above grade level from 32% to 51%. That 19-percentage-point jump beat Louisiana's statewide average growth of 17 percentage points.

The numbers tell an even more remarkable story when you look grade by grade. First graders saw the biggest leap, with 75% reaching benchmark by year's end compared to just 32% at the start. Kindergarteners weren't far behind, jumping from 19% to 49% proficient.

Third graders showed the strongest growth in the most recent school year, climbing from 34% to 59%. Second graders added 20 percentage points to their reading scores during the 2024-2025 year.

Executive Director Rashid Young credits students, parents, and teachers for the dramatic turnaround. "Lincoln Prep continues to outpace the state average for literacy growth," Young said. "This year alone, we surpassed the state average by 2.5 percentage points. That's the Prep Way!"

The school used high-quality reading materials, dedicated intervention time, and data-driven teaching strategies to achieve these results. Teachers received instructional coaching to strengthen their approach, and students got targeted support based on their individual needs.

The Ripple Effect

When young students learn to read well, the benefits extend far beyond test scores. Strong literacy skills open doors to every other subject, from math word problems to science experiments. These kindergarteners and first graders are building a foundation that will serve them through high school, college, and career.

The school's success also challenges the narrative that struggling schools can't turn around quickly. Lincoln Prep showed that with the right resources and unwavering commitment, dramatic improvement is possible in just two years.

School leaders aren't stopping here. They're planning to strengthen core literacy instruction even more, expand intervention programs, and fine-tune their progress monitoring systems. The goal is simple: ensure every student continues moving toward reading proficiency.

For a small charter school in rural Louisiana, Lincoln Prep is proving that zip codes don't have to determine reading destinies.