WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, SportsSchool starts early at Lowery Elementary

School starts early at Lowery Elementary

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DONALDSONVILLE, LA (WAFB) -

The first day of school is coming fast, but one Ascension Parish school has already opened its doors.

Seem a little early to start school?  Well, it's a week early at Lowery Elementary School in Donaldsonville.

The school is "Jump Starting" thanks to a program supported by a million dollar grant from the Louisiana Department of Education.

The seven schools serving the most students in the district with barriers to learning are in what their superintendent calls the "Turn Around Zone."

"Our concept is we're going to take these schools that currently have school performance scores in the mid-60s and 70s and move them significantly over the next three years," said Ascension Superintendent Patrice Pujol.

A lot goes into starting school just a week earlier and all hands are on deck at the school for what officials hope is a successful pilot program for the state.

"A lot of them don't have as much parental involvement as other schools so it will help them literally to get the jump start that they need," said Holly Hall, a teacher at the school.

Jump Start Week at Lowery will focus on math and reading.  School Principal Lakesa Dixon wants to raise scores from 66 to 100 in the next three to five years.

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