Lake Charles College Prep

Lake Charles College Prep is a single public charter high school in Lake Charles, Louisiana, serving grades 9 through 12 with 624 students, and it operates as its own district, Lake Charles College Prep.

This school stands out for its rapid academic improvement, jumping from the 37th percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 57th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026, a 20-percentile-point gain in just two years. Its strongest subject is Biology, where 75% of students are proficient—15 points above the state average of 60%. The school also excels in Algebra I (70% vs. 65% state average) and U.S. History (57% vs. 55%), while English I matches the state average at 66%. However, English II (65% vs. 67%) and Geometry (55% vs. 57%) lag slightly behind. The graduation rate is a standout at 92.0%, well above the state’s 85.0%, and the dropout rate is exceptionally low at 0.2% compared to 3.1% statewide. The school serves a high-poverty population, with 75.16% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and has a student-teacher ratio of 17:1.

An interesting finding is the "Biology Paradox"—the school’s top performance in science, despite its "College Prep" name and strong math scores, points to a specific strength in the science department. Another key takeaway is the contradiction between a high graduation rate (92%) and a high chronic absenteeism rate (25.7%, above the state average of 22.5%). This suggests that while students persist to graduation, many miss significant school days, indicating strong support systems to keep them enrolled. Year-over-year performance is inconsistent in some subjects, like U.S. History jumping from 43% to 57% and English II dropping from 73% to 65%, highlighting the influence of specific cohorts or teaching changes. Overall, Lake Charles College Prep shows a clear upward trajectory with notable strengths in Biology and graduation rates, but faces challenges with chronic absenteeism and subject volatility.