Calcasieu Parish

The Calcasieu Parish school district serves 56 public schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools, and is ranked 31st out of 116 parishes in Louisiana, earning a 4-star rating. The district boasts a strong graduation rate of 93.2%, well above the state average, but performance varies widely between schools, making it essential for parents to look closely at individual options.

For top academic performance, T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School stands out with perfect 100% proficiency in Math and English Language Arts, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 1.3%, and a 5-star rating, ranking 2nd in the state. Other excellent elementary choices include Prien Lake Elementary School and Vincent Settlement Elementary School, both with low absenteeism and high test scores. At the high school level, Sam Houston High School leads the district, showing a strong upward trend to the 88th percentile, while Bell City High School is an impressive alternative school with test scores higher than many traditional high schools. In contrast, LaGrange High School faces significant challenges with a 0-star rating, a 52.1% chronic absenteeism rate, and low proficiency scores, while Ralph F. Wilson Elementary School has the district's lowest test scores.

A key takeaway is that chronic absenteeism strongly predicts performance, with high-absentee schools like Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet School and Brentwood Elementary School struggling academically. However, economic disadvantage is not destiny, as LeBleu Settlement Elementary School achieves a 5-star rating despite over half its students being economically disadvantaged. Middle school math is a district-wide challenge, with 8th-grade scores consistently low across schools like W. W. Lewis Middle School and LeBlanc Middle School. Parents should also note that DeQuincy High School has seen a sharp decline in rankings, while Maplewood Middle School has improved significantly.