Public elementary and secondary schools in Baton Rouge are part of the East Baton Rouge Parish (county) system, administered by a school board that appoints a superintendent. The system offers specialized programs for gifted students as well as arts, English as a second language, magnet, Montessori, college preparatory, and vocational programming. Adult education is provided to more than 5,000 students each year. A 1998 vote approved the five-year collection of a one-cent sales tax to be used for educational improvements; the tax generated nearly $300 million, which funded the construction of four new schools, and additions, improvements and repairs to all of the others. In 2003 voters renewed the tax-collecting program for another five years. District plans include seven new schools, and more renovations and repairs to existing schools.
The following is a summary of data regarding East Baton Rouge Parish's public schools as of the 2002–2003 school year.
Total enrollment: 52,434
Number of facilities
elementary schools: 52
junior high/middle schools: 13
senior high schools: 11
other: 12
Student/teacher ratio: 14.8:1
Teacher salaries
minimum: $36,604
maximum: $53,001
Funding per pupil: $7,478
About 50 parochial and private schools also operate in the Baton Rouge area, enrolling more than 60,000 students.
Public Schools Information: East Baton Rouge Parish School System, 1050 S. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70806; telephone (225)922-5400
Baton Rouge is home to two major universities, Louisiana State University (LSU) and Southern University (SU). LSU, with more than 31,000 students, offers undergraduate programs in more than 100 fields and advanced degrees in many fields, including law and medicine and is one of only 25 universities nationwide holding both land-grant and sea-grant status. SU, with more than 10,000 students, is the largest African American university system in the nation. SU offers degrees through 13 different colleges and includes programs in arts and science and engineering. Baton Rouge Community College enrolls about 4,000 students and is expanding its campus to include a Science and Technology Building and a Learning Resources Center, which will feature a library, a theater, and an academic learning center. Industrial training programs are available at 14 vocational-technical schools in greater Baton Rouge, including the Baton Rouge Technical Institute.
In addition to its main library in Baton Rouge, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library operates 12 branches. Its collection includes nearly one million volumes, plus magazines, newspapers, films, cassette tapes, compact discs, videos, talking books, and art reproductions. The library's popular Information Services answers more than 600,000 questions annually, many of them telephone inquiries. Baton Rouge residents also have access to libraries at Louisiana State University and Southern University and to several governmental libraries.
About 70 research centers are located in the Baton Rouge area; many of them are affiliated with LSU and conduct research in such fields as agriculture, mining, and environmental studies. Key LSU research institutes include the $125 million Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the $25 million Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices. Private-sector research facilities include Exxon's R&D Laboratories and the Allied Signal High Density Polyethylene Laboratory.
Public Library Information: East Baton Rouge Parish Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806-7699; telephone (225)389-3360