Iberia Parish School District

Articulated art courses are offered at middle schools and high schools. Fine Arts Survey is available to students at the high school level. Elementary students participate in state and local contests, including those sponsored by local art guilds and associations.

Interscholastic athletic offerings meet the standards of the state-approved regulations governed by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Schools participate according to their classification in one or more of these sports: baseball, basketball, football, golf, power lifting, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball.

Students and teams regularly win honors in district and state level contests. Many receive athletic scholarships to universities in this state and others. Some enter the professional ranks.

Computer science courses are available at the high school levels. However, the goal of the parish is to align the Louisiana Technology Guidelines with foundation skills integrated across all content areas. Consequently, the guidelines and the associated performance indicators are integrated in all aspects of the curriculum and not taught in isolation. The focus is on learning with information and technology rather than learning about technology.

The computer programs at New Iberia Senior High School and Westgate High School have expanded beyond the theoretical, to include the teaching of marketable skills. To align with state-mandated career paths, academies are being implemented, and technology curricula organized into clusters that are either hardware or software oriented. Academies can potentially prepare them to fulfill requirements for a university or a technical college program. As students acquire work-related skills and knowledge, they can receive industry recognized certifications. Students who choose to go from school to work leave the academy with employable skills.

Beginning in the fall of 1985-86, an articulated foreign language program began at grade four. It now encompasses grades four through six. The goal of the program is to provide elementary public school children the opportunity of attaining proficiency in a second language through a continuous progress program that will eventually coordinate with the secondary programs. Moreover, it is intended that this second language acquisition should not have a negative effect on the student's basic skills acquisition in English. Upon completion of the elementary school program, the student should be capable of using the second language as a means of communication in situations corresponding to the needs and interests of children his/her own age.

Presently, there are several elementary schools participating in the Articulated Foreign Language Program.

French and Spanish courses are offered at the five high schools. Course availability is dependent on student requests.

Foreign language immersion instruction is based on a fundamental premise that children learn a second language the same way in which they learn their first, when they are exposed to it in its natural form and where they are socially motivated to communicate.

Foreign language comprises one of the six core subjects with national standards. In addition to following the foreign language standards, French Immersion instruction presents a standards-based curriculum in mathematics, science, and social studies. Many English language arts standards relating to literacy are addressed through French language arts classes as well.

Since the 2002-2003 school year, all kindergarten students have had the opportunity to enroll in the district's French Immersion education setting which is housed at North Lewis Elementary School.   All students are eligible regardless of school zone. Parental commitment for the child's continued enrollment is required as well as transportation if a child is out of the North Lewis Elementary or Belle Place Middle school zones.  For more information or to schedule a tour, contact the principal of North Lewis Elementary.

Students at all Iberia Parish high schools must enroll in a specific number of honors level courses in order to be eligible for the recognition of an honor graduate.  Honors level courses provide students with an enriched curriculum designed to capitalize on their intellectual capabilities while enhancing their college readiness.

Iberia Parish has been in the forefront of systems requiring that students successfully complete a developmentally appropriate Kindergarten program prior to enrolling in first grade. There are full day kindergarten classes in all elementary schools.

Students who shall attain the age of five (5) years on or before September 30 may enroll in Kindergarten. A birth certificate, Social Security card, completed health record, and proof of residence must be presented at the time of registration. Registration for Kindergarten begins on Round-Up Day which is usually held in March each year.  The date and other pertinent information regarding  Round-Up (registration) are communicated through school flyers, community postings, and public service announcements.

The music program in Iberia Parish includes a grade 6-12 band program and a choral program at some of the schools. A band director is assigned to each of the high schools and middle schools. These directors, along with two full time itinerant band teachers, work with feeder schools. They provide sixth grade students with the opportunity to enroll in band to develop skills in the playing of instruments. The bands in grades 7-12 take a prominent role in local community functions and festivals. The music and marching skills of the high school bands represent Iberia Parish well in regional band competition. Band and chorus students of Iberia Parish are selected annually to the state honor band and chorus.

The New Iberia Senior High School, Delcambre High School, Loreauville High School, and Westgate High School bands participate in the Louisiana Showcase of Bands. They are annually rated as top bands in the competition.  All high school bands participate in District Festival.  In addition, band students across the parish are allowed to showcase their talents at the Parish Solo and Ensemble Festival and the Parish Honor Band Performance.  Jeanerette Senior High School and Westgate High School participate in several "Battle of the Bands" competitions.  Our bands also participate in community events such as festival parades.

Westgate High and New Iberia Senior High Schools have expanded their music programs to include chorus. The expansion incorporates a wide range of choral options. 

Iberia Parish's physical education program emphasizes the concept of "wellness."  Programs are provided at all grade levels, and training is encouraged in fitness, gross and fine motor coordination, sports and games, dance and gymnastics. Students with special needs are also addressed with the assistance of adaptive physical education instructors.

Comprehensive health studies contribute to students' life-time competencies in such areas as personal health, first-aid/CPR, and nutrition.

The Iberia Parish School System has Pre-Kindergarten classes at all elementary schools in the district.  The programs are funded through a variety of sources including:  8(g), Title I, and LA4 Pre-K State and Federal funds.  Additionally, all Early Childhood classes are taught by highly qualified teachers and para-educators.  The classes provide developmentally appropriate language experiences for four-year-olds through hands-on, multi-sensory activities.

Students who are four (4) years old on or before September 30th are eligible for Pre-K Screening.  At the time of registration, the following documents are required:

¨      birth certificate (state issued)

¨      social security card

¨      immunization record

¨      proof of household income

¨      proof of residence

The Iberia Parish Early Childhood Community Network hosts a coordinated enrollment activity each spring to provide parents with information about the PreK options in our parish.  The date of this activity along with other pertinent information regarding coordinated enrollment are communicated through school flyers, community postings,and public service announcements.

All schools in Iberia Parish - elementary, middle, and high - have librarians serving the faculty and students. Each library is considered essential to the instructional program of the school in providing resources, services, and instruction that will assist students and teachers in becoming effective seekers and users of information. The goals of the library program are threefold: to provide a well-rounded collection of learning materials and access to information sources; to assist students in using resources, developing an appreciation of the value of literature, and discovering the joy of reading; and to support classroom instruction by providing curriculum resources and consultation in the use of instructional and informational technology.

All libraries meet or exceed state standards for print and non-print materials. These materials are chosen to support and enrich the total educational program, and their quality is excellent.

Loreauville High School, New Iberia Senior High School, Westgate High School, and Daspit Elementary School have received the prestigious Modisette Award given by the Louisiana Association of School Librarians to outstanding school library programs in the state.

All of our schools have automated library circulation and cataloging programs.  Each library provides faculty and students with intenet access along with access to multiple databases for research. Additionally, many of them also have incorporated interactive Promethean Board into their learning environment.

Various summer school programs are available for elementary, middle, and high school students.  Programs include:

Elementary Summer School

Instruction in core academic subjects is offered as a face-to-face option. Students in grades two through eight may participate to remove deficiencies in courses they have failed in order to be considered for promotion or to enrich academic skills in weak subjects. Subject availability is dependent upon sufficient enrollment.

Registration fee is required.

High School Summer School

Full or partial Carnegie units are offered for most subjects through a virtual option except Algebra I, which is face-to-face              

Registration fee is required.

Elementary and Middle School Summer Remediation

Students deemed non-proficient in English language arts or mathematics are either recommended or required to attend remediation sessions. Remediation targets the most important content standards and skills that are required for success on the LEAP test and in the next grade level’s content.

Program is district funded.   There is no cost to eligible students.

End-of-Course Summer Remediation

Students who do not pass a high school End-of-Course (EOC) assessment are eligible for enrollment. Students focus on content and skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency on the EOC test. This remediation program culminates with the opportunity to re-take the failed EOC test during a state approved re-administration window.

Program is district funded.   There is no cost to eligible students.

English Language Learners Summer Program

Identified English Language Learners are provided an opportunity to continue academic growth and language acquisition by participating in summer enrichment and remediation in both English language arts and mathematics. 

Program is district funded.   There is no cost to eligible students.

Extended School Year Services (ESYS)

Extended year services are provided to students with disabilities in accordance with a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

There is no cost to eligible students.