Best Public Schools in Lake Charles, LA

The city of Lake Charles, Louisiana is home to a diverse array of 34 schools, including 23 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 6 high schools. The educational landscape in this area showcases a mix of high-performing and lower-performing institutions, with several standout schools that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement.

Among the top-performing schools in Lake Charles are T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, which consistently ranks among the best elementary schools in Louisiana with near-perfect proficiency rates. Other notable schools include LeBleu Settlement Elementary School and Prien Lake Elementary School, which also boast impressive academic results. At the high school level, Grand Lake High School in the neighboring Cameron Parish district stands out with strong performance across multiple subjects.

However, the data also reveals significant disparities in academic achievement across the district. While many schools excel, there are clear gaps between the highest and lowest performing institutions, often correlated with socioeconomic factors. Schools with higher rates of free and reduced-price lunch, such as those in the central and southern parts of Lake Charles, tend to struggle more academically. Nonetheless, the presence of successful charter and magnet schools, like Lake Charles Charter Academy and T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet, suggest opportunities for replicating effective educational practices to benefit all students in the Calcasieu Parish district.