Elementary Schools in Calcasieu Parish

The 33 elementary schools in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, serve students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade in a district ranked 31st in the state, creating a landscape of stark contrasts between high-performing magnet and neighborhood schools and those facing significant socioeconomic challenges.

The parish is home to several standout schools that consistently achieve exceptional results. T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School is the undisputed leader, with a perfect 100% proficiency rate in all subjects, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (1.3%), and the lowest poverty rate (15% free/reduced lunch). Other top performers include Prien Lake Elementary School, LeBleu Settlement Elementary School, and Vincent Settlement Elementary School, all of which boast 5-star ratings, high test scores (often above 90% proficiency), and low chronic absenteeism rates (under 10%). In contrast, schools like Ralph F. Wilson Elementary School and John J. Johnson II Elementary School face severe challenges, with the highest poverty rates (over 95%) and chronic absenteeism rates exceeding 27%, resulting in the lowest test scores in the parish.

A critical takeaway is the strong correlation between poverty, absenteeism, and academic performance. Schools with the highest poverty rates, such as Brentwood Elementary School (93% free/reduced lunch) and Barbe Elementary School (91%), also have the highest chronic absenteeism rates (over 36%) and struggle academically. Meanwhile, the district average for chronic absenteeism is 20.9%, with many schools exceeding this threshold. Interestingly, smaller schools like Ralph F. Wilson have the lowest student-teacher ratios (7.3:1), but this benefit is overwhelmed by the concentration of poverty and absenteeism. This data reveals a "tale of two cities" within the parish, where a cluster of high-performing schools competes with the best in the state, while another group requires targeted support to address systemic challenges.