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Barbe Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

601^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of Louisiana elementary schools

Summary

Barbe Elementary School is a small, PK-5 school in Lake Charles, LA, serving 179 students as part of the Calcasieu Parish school district, but it faces significant challenges with a 1-star rating and a state ranking in the 13th percentile for the 2025-2026 school year.

The most critical issue at Barbe Elementary is its exceptionally high chronic absenteeism rate of 36.9%, which is nearly double the district average of 20.9% and far exceeds the state average of 22.5%. This persistent problem, which has remained above 36% for four years, directly impacts academic performance, with only 48% of students proficient in Math and 51% in ELA—well below district and state averages. The school's struggles are particularly stark when compared to T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, located just 0.77 miles away, which boasts a 5-star rating, 100% proficiency in core subjects, and a chronic absenteeism rate of only 1.3%. This contrast highlights how school choice and magnet programs can create extreme performance disparities within the same community. Additionally, Barbe Elementary has seen a dramatic decline in performance for female students, who dropped from the 22nd percentile to the 9th percentile in the last year, warranting immediate investigation.

Despite these challenges, the school has some potential assets, including a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.5:1, which is lower than nearby high-performing schools like Prien Lake Elementary (12.8:1) and T. S. Cooley (18.7:1). There is also a bright spot in 4th-grade ELA, where 58% of students were proficient, suggesting a possible area of instructional strength. However, the school's inability to translate these advantages into academic gains, particularly for its high-poverty population (87.71% free/reduced lunch), underscores the urgent need to address absenteeism as the primary barrier to improvement. The school's state ranking has also declined significantly in recent years, falling from the 25th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 13th percentile in 2025-2026, contrasting with nearby Brentwood Elementary, which has maintained a stable 2-star rating in the 43rd-46th percentile range.

179

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,944

Per pupil spending ?

87.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

400 Penn Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601

(337) 217-4600

District: Calcasieu Parish

Racial breakdown:

African American:

82.1%

White:

8.9%

Hispanic:

5.0%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 30th percentile in 2016 → 13th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Louisiana average (41% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (37% vs 22% Louisiana)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg68%

Louisiana avg62%

601^st of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 30% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

26^th of 29Elementary Schools in the Calcasieu Parish

31^st of 116Calcasieu Parish among Louisiana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	19.2	601 of 690	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.5	499 of 666	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.0	508 of 675	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.3	493 of 730	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.8	487 of 727	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.4	490 of 729	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	19.8	625 of 731	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	6.4	702 of 728	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	25.6	591 of 739	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	37.4	517 of 742	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.8	556 of 792	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	27.1	615 of 777	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	26.8	629 of 772	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	28.7	592 of 764	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.7	526 of 766	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	34.7	527 of 736	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	39.4	493 of 738	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	26.7	578 of 743	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	38.3	492 of 725	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	33.2	400 of 548	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.2	336 of 501	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.8	304 of 509	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.3	323 of 570	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.0	327 of 562	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.4	262 of 564	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.8	418 of 559	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.5	455 of 547	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	16.1	617 of 679	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	28.3	494 of 633	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.1	543 of 705	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.5	639 of 684	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	20.2	602 of 685	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.9	554 of 661	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.8	485 of 674	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.2	507 of 723	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.0	455 of 724	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.5	456 of 719	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	20.7	606 of 697	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.4	617 of 682	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	29.0	527 of 682	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.2	520 of 641	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.0	442 of 651	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.1	479 of 713	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.0	361 of 704	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.1	547 of 696	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	43.6	206 of 361	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2026)43rd percentile+30 vs school

African American (2026)27th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)23rd percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)12th percentile~ school

Female (2026)9th percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts51%-19 vs state

Mathematics48%-14 vs state

Social Studies25%-30 vs state

★

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Schools Near Barbe Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				LEAP Mathematics (2026)				LEAP English Language Arts (2026)				LEAP Social Studies (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	LEAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	LEAP Mathematics 4th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 5th Grade	LEAP Mathematics All Grades	LEAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts All Grades	LEAP Social Studies 3rd Grade	LEAP Social Studies 4th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 5th Grade	LEAP Social Studies All Grades	Total
Barbe Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	400 Penn Street	Lake Charles	70601	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4600	179	16	11.5	87.7%	16 (8.9%)	147 (82.1%)	9 (5.0%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.1%)	1 (0.6%)	3 (1.7%)	19.2	601^st of 690 public elementary schools	12.9%		29.5	499^th of 666 public elementary schools	25.1%	102	48.0	48.0		48.0	45.0	58.0	52.0	51.0		38.0	29.0	25.0	$20,944
T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School	Public, Magnet	K-5	2711 Common Street	Lake Charles	70601	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	Yes	No	No	(337) 217-4680	300	16	18.7	15.0%	201 (67.0%)	42 (14.0%)	16 (5.3%)	22 (7.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.0%)								(n/a)						100.0		100.0	100.0			100.0	$14,387
College Oaks Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3618 Ernest Street	Lake Charles	70605	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4560	278	27	10.3	82.0%	51 (18.3%)	202 (72.7%)	17 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	39.9	440^th of 690 public elementary schools	36.2%		37.6	435^th of 666 public elementary schools	34.7%	5	66.0	42.0	41.0	50.0	63.0	67.0	70.0	67.0	58.0	36.0	38.0	44.0	$21,783
Henry Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3600 Louisiana Avenue	Lake Charles	70607	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4620	315	33	9.4	79.7%	44 (14.0%)	238 (75.6%)	14 (4.4%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.8%)	25.9	549^th of 690 public elementary schools	20.4%		29.7	498^th of 666 public elementary schools	25.2%	51	66.0	37.0	31.0	45.0	73.0	56.0	54.0	61.0	29.0	33.0	27.0	29.0	$21,468
Pearl Watson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 5th Street	Lake Charles	70601	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4860	219	20	10.9	91.8%	7 (3.2%)	202 (92.2%)	7 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	27.3	534^th of 690 public elementary schools	22.6%		21.2	562^nd of 666 public elementary schools	15.6%	28	62.0	65.0	45.0	57.0	51.0	50.0	60.0	54.0	10.0		30.0	20.0	$18,016
Prien Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3741 Nelson Road	Lake Charles	70605	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	No	(337) 217-4910	639	50	12.8	41.2%	370 (57.9%)	164 (25.7%)	45 (7.0%)	25 (3.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.3%)	96.1	16^th of 690 public elementary schools	97.7%		95.3	16^th of 666 public elementary schools	97.6%		99.0	92.0			89.0			93.0	81.0	89.0	92.0	87.0	$14,773
Oak Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2001 18th Street	Lake Charles	70601	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4850	259	25	10.3	84.9%	6 (2.3%)	244 (94.2%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.3%)	23.2	566^th of 690 public elementary schools	18.0%		25.2	526^th of 666 public elementary schools	21.0%	40	53.0	36.0		49.0	43.0	45.0	73.0	53.0	29.0		38.0	30.0	$19,066
Brentwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3825 Brentwood Avenue	Lake Charles	70607	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4610	272	26	10.3	93.0%	6 (2.2%)	252 (92.6%)	6 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.6%)	45.4	396^th of 690 public elementary schools	42.6%		49.1	361^st of 666 public elementary schools	45.8%	35	58.0		41.0	57.0	70.0	68.0	81.0	74.0	42.0	46.0	44.0	44.0	$19,296
T. H. Watkins Elementary School	Public	K-5	2501 Seventh Avenue	Lake Charles	70601	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4590	165	16	10.0	90.9%	6 (3.6%)	147 (89.1%)	5 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.2%)	16.3	626^th of 690 public elementary schools	9.3%		35.5	452^nd of 666 public elementary schools	32.1%	174	44.0	37.0	41.0	40.0	41.0	63.0	45.0	48.0		33.0	33.0	34.0	$20,609
Dolby Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	817 Jefferson Drive	Lake Charles	70605	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4730	360	31	11.5	61.4%	146 (40.6%)	170 (47.2%)	21 (5.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.8%)	74.1	194^th of 690 public elementary schools	71.9%		74.1	176^th of 666 public elementary schools	73.6%	18	77.0	67.0	53.0	67.0	81.0	83.0		81.0	75.0	69.0	65.0	70.0	$17,748

Frequently Asked Questions about Barbe Elementary School

What district is Barbe Elementary School in?

Calcasieu Parish

What is the racial makeup of Barbe Elementary School?

Students at Barbe Elementary School are 82% African American, 9% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

Is Barbe Elementary School a good school?

Barbe Elementary School ranks in the bottom 12.9% of Louisiana elementary schools.

How many students attend Barbe Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 179 students attended Barbe Elementary School.

Rate Barbe Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Louisiana Dept of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.