Editing Hammond, Louisiana (section)

==Education==
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[[Southeastern Louisiana University]] (SLU), based in Hammond, is one of the state's regional universities and one of the city's largest employers. It was established in 1925 through the efforts of the educator [[Linus A. Sims]], then principal of Hammond High School. The city is also home to Northshore Technical Community College. There are also two vocational colleges in the city, Petra College<ref>{{Cite web |title=Petra College |url=https://www.petracollege.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318150222/https://www.petracollege.com/ |archive-date=2023-03-18 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=petracollege.com}}</ref> and Compass Career College,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://compasscareercollege.net/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318144720/https://compasscareercollege.net/|url-status=dead|title=Compass Career College &#124; Vocational Training in Hammond, LA|archivedate=March 18, 2023|website=compasscareercollege.net}}</ref> both of which offer allied health and medical certifications.

The city's public schools are part of the [[Tangipahoa Parish School System]] and include [[Hammond High Magnet School]], Hammond Junior High, Eastside Elementary, Westside Elementary, SLU Laboratory School, and Crystal Academy (an alternative school).

The [[Catholic Church]] operates two schools in Hammond: Holy Ghost Catholic School (pre-kindergarten through 8th grades) and [[Saint Thomas Aquinas High School (Hammond, Louisiana)|Saint Thomas Aquinas High School]], which is just north of the city. In addition, Trafton Academy (pre-K through 8th) and Oaks Montessori School (pre-K through 8th) are private schools serving area students.

In 2018, press reports indicated that only 74% of the local population held high school diplomas. In this respect, Hammond ranks among the bottom 25 cities nationally and is comparable to [[Salem, Oregon]], and [[Tucson, Arizona]]. With only 20% of people having a college degree, the city was in the bottom quarter nationwide in this ranking too.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sauter |first1=Michael B. |title=Cities Where the Fewest People Graduate High School |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/08/21/cities-where-fewest-people-graduate-high-school/37271117/ |access-date=17 September 2018 |newspaper=USA Today |date=21 August 2018 |archive-date=22 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822081414/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/08/21/cities-where-fewest-people-graduate-high-school/37271117/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Schools in this district are ranked in the lower 50% of public schools in the state.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://www.publicschoolreview.com/louisiana/tangipahoa-parish-county | title=Top 10 Best Tangipahoa Parish Public Schools (2023) | access-date=2023-03-18 | archive-date=2023-03-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318145217/https://www.publicschoolreview.com/louisiana/tangipahoa-parish-county | url-status=live }}</ref>

The TPPS had 19,500 students enrolled for the 2020-2021 academic year<ref name="auto"/> and an annual budget of $219 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET of the TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM |url=https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1621080380/tangischoolsorg/pnlvvixsottc1s4nml1h/2020-21_Original_Budget.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318145217/https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1621080380/tangischoolsorg/pnlvvixsottc1s4nml1h/2020-21_Original_Budget.pdf |archive-date=2023-03-18 |url-status=live}}</ref>