Branch
Branch, LA · Education
The Daily Advertiser
More LPSS students are in class, a win for Lafayette's future
The Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) is setting the pace for student attendance across south Louisiana, earning the top spot in the Louisiana Department of Education's Region IV for both daily attendance and lowest chronic absenteeism during the 2025-26 school year. The latest state data shows LPSS recorded a 92.9% daily attendance rate, the highest in Region IV . The district also posted the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 22.7%, while ranking second-best in the region for truancy at 38.12%. Education leaders said the numbers represent more than just students showing up for class. They point to a districtwide effort that could have long-term implications for academic achievement, workforce readiness and the future economic health of Lafayette Parish. "We can't teach children who aren't in school," LPSS Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr. said. "Research shows that students who miss too much school are more likely to struggle academically, especially with reading in the early grades. Every day in the classroom matters, and that's why attendance is such a priority for us." Why attendance matters Decades of educational research have linked regular attendance to improved academic performance, graduation rates and career success. According to the U.S. Department of Education, students who are
jacksonparishjournal.com
Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary Attends UCE Cheer Camp in Lafayette
The Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary School (J-HES) Cheer Squad attended the Urban Cheer Experience (UCE) through the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) in Lafayette from Friday, October 16, to Saturday, October 17. The individualized instruction allowed the team to hone skill fundamentals, crowd leading, and team bonding through exclusive UCE materials and dances.
theadvocate.com
St. Thomas More claims impressive sweep of Teurlings Catholic
The St. Thomas More volleyball team moved closer to securing another district title Tuesday, sweeping past Teurlings Catholic in another dominant performance. The Cougars (28-4, 5-0 District 4-II) cruised to a 25-18, 25-10, 25-17 win at Teurlings. “I thought we executed really well,” coach Jessica Burke said of the Cougars,...
theadvocate.com
Surging Teurlings Rebels not your typical 1-6 football team
The football season hasn't gone as well as Teurlings Catholic hoped it would, but that hasn’t stopped the Rebels from continuing to fight. You are what your record says you are, but the 1-6 Rebels have remained competitive. “When you look at our schedule, if you just look at...
evangelinetoday.com
MHS 2026 Homecoming Court announced
Mamou High announces its 2026-2027 Homecoming Court. Shown, top row to bottom row, L to R: Top Row- Tamryn Semien, Isabella Marcantel, Charleigh Aguillard, Madison Lebouef, Autumn Martel, Baiya Doucet, and Da’Nyzsha Thomas; Bottom Row- Shayla Wilson, Naomi Wilson, Olivia LaHaye, Jasmine Noel, Lily Marcantel, and Brooklyn Brown. Homecoming ceremonies will be held Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m. Crowning will be held at halftime of the football game against Eunice High School. A pep rally will be held earlier that day at 10 a.m., and a parade will begin at 5 p.m. that afternoon.
KPLC TV
The Daily Advertiser
SoLAcc offers paid path to electrician careers in New Iberia
South Louisiana Community College is partnering with local employers to train Acadiana’s next generation of electricians through a new Registered Electrical Apprenticeship at its New Iberia Campus. The four-year program combines classroom instruction through SoLAcc with paid, on-the-job training through participating employers, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn and work toward becoming journeyman electricians . The program marks a first within Louisiana’s community and technical college system. SoLAcc is the first college within LCTC to offer this type of Registered Apprenticeship through a non-credit workforce program. The apprenticeship grew out of conversations with Gridic Electrical Services founder Jonas Hebert, who approached SoLAcc about a challenge employers across the region face: a shortage of trained electricians and a need for more ways to develop skilled talent locally. “There is a real shortage of trained electricians, and at the same time there are many young people who would do very well in the trades if they were given a clear path into the industry,” Hebert said. “We wanted a program where someone could learn in the classroom, apply that knowledge at work and earn a paycheck while progressing toward a recognized career.” While Gridic helped bring the idea forward, the apprenticeship
Abbeville Meridional
Abbeville High’s new reading program: Beyond the Page
A summer conversation between English teachers Tiffany Fontenot and Lauren Howell turned into a brand-new reading program at Abbeville High School called Beyond the Page. Beyond the Page is based on the popular AR reading program. Each week, students earn prizes based on the points they accumulate. They take a quiz on what they’ve read, using a test generator created by Fontenot and Howell, to determine how many points they receive. Some prizes include snacks, notepads, key chains, ID badge holders, earbuds, and even gift cards to the movies.
theadvocate.com
Stars of the Night for Week 7 of Acadiana area high school football
Week 7 scoreboard with scores, reported stats, games stories, etc. The Knights quarterback hit big plays in the second half to help LCA blow past Franklin, tossing four touchdown passes on 14-of-21 passing for 183 yards. Hills also ran for 26 yards on six carries. Justin Williams, Southside. After a...
The Daily Advertiser
Vote now for The Daily Advertiser Athlete of the Week (Oct. 12-18)
The weather in Lafayette Parish and its surrounding areas may be cooling down, but things continue to heat up on the court, field and on the track across high school sports. With more primetime matchups happening this past week across the 337, that means it’s time to vote for the next Daily Advertiser Athlete of the Week. With fall high school sports underway, here are six athletes who had top performances in their respective sports from Oct. 12 - 18. See which athletes are in the running this week from the following fall sports: football, girls volleyball and cross country. Voting will close at 9 a.m. on Friday. VOTE HERE: (Athletes listed in alphabetical order) Landyn Craft, football, St. Thomas More: Craft was locked in during the Cougars’ big-time district matchup against Barbe in Week 7. The senior running back rushed for three touchdowns, leading STM’s rushing attack to a 35-14 victory over the Bucs. Addisyn Derouen, girls volleyball, Catholic-N.I.: Derouen reached a new milestone in her career this past week, notching her 1,000th dig. The senior libero averages three digs per set as a core part of the Panthers' attack, helping them to a 21-3 overall record so far
evangelinetoday.com
KPLC TV
theadvocate.com
Southside's rushing attack too much for Lafayette High for fourth win
Southside coach Jess Curtis said the game plan against Lafayette High on Friday was simply to play the Sharks' style of football. Behind a physical offensive line and hard running by their backfield, that’s exactly what the Sharks did en route to beating the Mighty Lions 35-20. “We wanted...
theadvocate.com
Cecilia flexes muscles in rout of Beau Chene to control 5-4A race
Until proven otherwise, the Cecilia Bulldogs reign supreme in District 5-4A. On Friday night for homecoming, the Bulldogs thrived behind the "angry running" of senior Deondre Briscoe, who scored all four of his touchdowns in the first half of a 61-14 win over previously unbeaten Beau Chene. "Look, he was...