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M. J. Kaufman Elementary School

Q: Is M. J. Kaufman Elementary School a good school?

M. J. Kaufman Elementary School ranks 280 th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

280^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Elementary Schools

Better than 59% of Louisiana elementary schools

Summary

M. J. Kaufman Elementary School in Lake Charles, LA, is a mid-sized elementary school serving 308 students from Pre-K through 5th grade in the Calcasieu Parish district, where over 82% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school stands out for its exceptional support of special education students, ranking 8th out of 241 schools statewide in 2024-2025—a remarkable achievement that far exceeds nearby schools like Prien Lake Elementary or A. A. Nelson Elementary. Kaufman also excels with its low-income students, ranking in the 81st percentile statewide, and shows strong recent growth in English Language Arts, with 76% of students proficient in 2025-2026, above the state average of 70%.

However, the school faces challenges, particularly with chronic absenteeism at 25.8%, which is higher than the district average of 20.9% and more than double that of high-performing neighbors like Prien Lake (9.7%) and A. A. Nelson (11.0%). This absenteeism creates a headwind, but the students who attend regularly are clearly receiving a quality education, as seen in the strong ELA scores and subgroup performances. Mathematics is a relative weakness, with 64% proficiency slightly above the state average but below the district's 71%, and 3rd grade math scores at 50% are a particular concern. Despite these issues, Kaufman has shown an upward trend, climbing from the 47th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 59th percentile in 2025-2026.

Compared to demographically similar schools like Brentwood Elementary (93% low-income) and College Oaks Elementary (82% low-income), Kaufman outperforms them in overall ranking and test scores, demonstrating its effectiveness despite socioeconomic challenges. The nearby T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School is a top-tier school with 100% proficiency, but its student population is only 15% low-income, highlighting how demographics influence metrics. Kaufman's ability to achieve strong results for its special education and low-income students while facing high poverty rates is a testament to its targeted interventions and dedicated staff.

308

Students ?

10.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,371

Per pupil spending ?

82.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

301 Tekel Road
Lake Charles, LA 70607

(337) 217-4740

District: Calcasieu Parish

Students who attend M. J. Kaufman Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	F. K. White Middle School
High:	LaGrange High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

43.2%

White:

38.3%

Two or more races:

9.4%

See top rated Louisiana elementary schools

Compare M. J. Kaufman Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 44th percentile in 2016 → 59th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Louisiana median (59th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school65%

District avg68%

Louisiana avg62%

280^th of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Top 41%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 44% (2016) to top 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

17^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	62.5	280 of 690	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.2	208 of 666	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.6	361 of 675	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.4	356 of 730	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.2	403 of 727	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.4	393 of 729	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.2	422 of 731	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.5	285 of 728	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	51.6	406 of 739	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	49.3	415 of 742	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	73.8	190 of 792	76.0%	★★★★☆
2014	70.5	232 of 777	70.1%	★★★★☆
2013	74.4	175 of 772	77.3%	★★★★☆
2012	74.1	197 of 764	74.2%	★★★★☆
2011	73.8	214 of 766	72.1%	★★★★☆
2010	73.3	216 of 736	70.7%	★★★★☆
2009	62.2	322 of 738	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.5	290 of 743	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	53.6	376 of 725	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	59.0	201 of 548	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.3	158 of 501	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.2	214 of 509	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.1	254 of 570	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.0	296 of 562	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.9	250 of 564	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.4	258 of 559	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.2	176 of 547	67.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	58.5	297 of 679	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.7	230 of 633	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.4	378 of 635	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.3	419 of 705	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.8	445 of 701	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.8	433 of 705	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.5	461 of 684	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2019	22.6	165 of 190	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.8	155 of 168	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	71.2	180 of 685	73.7%	★★★★☆
2025	77.3	123 of 661	81.4%	★★★★☆
2024	59.9	281 of 674	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.4	331 of 723	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.7	352 of 724	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.9	288 of 719	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.4	415 of 697	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.9	277 of 682	59.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	66.7	251 of 682	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	81.0	100 of 641	84.4%	★★★★☆
2024	60.6	271 of 651	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.6	298 of 713	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.5	363 of 712	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.9	370 of 704	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.7	373 of 696	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2025	91.0	8 of 241	96.7%	★★★★★
2022	83.4	37 of 307	87.9%	★★★★☆
2021	58.5	114 of 306	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.2	67 of 333	79.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	53.4	252 of 496	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	77.5	77 of 431	82.1%	★★★★☆
2024	30.4	360 of 434	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.0	346 of 518	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.4	366 of 517	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.5	426 of 522	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.5	403 of 517	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.3	424 of 516	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2025)97th percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)74th percentile+14 vs school

African American (2026)63rd percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)63rd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)56th percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)49th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2019)13th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts76%+6 vs state

Mathematics64%~ state avg

Social Studies56%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near M. J. Kaufman 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
M. J. Kaufman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Tekel Road	Lake Charles	70607	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4740	308	31	10.0	82.1%	118 (38.3%)	133 (43.2%)	25 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	29 (9.4%)	62.5	280^th of 690 public elementary schools	59.4%		71.2	208^th of 666 public elementary schools	68.8%	72	50.0	78.0	71.0	64.0	72.0	77.0		76.0	46.0	65.0	59.0	56.0	$18,371
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
A. A. Nelson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1001 Country Club Road	Lake Charles	70605	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4790	736	48	15.1	56.7%	304 (41.3%)	250 (34.0%)	50 (6.8%)	98 (13.3%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.1%)	80.1	133^rd of 690 public elementary schools	80.7%		87.8	74^th of 666 public elementary schools	88.9%	59	82.0	81.0	77.0	80.0	74.0	80.0		80.0	72.0	62.0	70.0	67.0	$14,736
Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1700 East McNeese Street	Lake Charles	70607	Calcasieu Parish	Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(337) 475-7910	852	57	15.0	82.9%	41 (4.8%)	588 (69.0%)	185 (21.7%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	33 (3.9%)								(n/a)													$13,719
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
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
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
St. John Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5566 Elliott Road	Lake Charles	70605	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4870	670	52	12.9	65.7%	358 (53.4%)	207 (30.9%)	54 (8.1%)	20 (3.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (4.2%)	78.2	149^th of 690 public elementary schools	78.4%		70.3	216^th of 666 public elementary schools	67.6%	67		65.0	81.0	72.0	82.0	80.0		83.0	71.0	63.0	75.0	70.0	$15,355
Fairview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3955 Gerstner Mem. Drive	Lake Charles	70607	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4490	518	46	11.2	58.7%	44 (8.5%)	168 (32.4%)	296 (57.1%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	16.4	625^th of 690 public elementary schools	9.4%		17.9	584^th of 666 public elementary schools	12.3%	41	44.0	47.0	42.0	45.0	42.0	56.0	49.0	48.0	30.0	32.0	32.0	31.0	$16,996

Frequently Asked Questions about M. J. Kaufman Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of M. J. Kaufman Elementary School?

Students at M. J. Kaufman Elementary School are 43% African American, 38% White, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic.

How many students attend M. J. Kaufman Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 308 students attended M. J. Kaufman Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of M. J. Kaufman Elementary School attend?

Students who attend M. J. Kaufman Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : F. K. White Middle School
High : LaGrange High School

What district is M. J. Kaufman Elementary School in?

Calcasieu Parish

Is M. J. Kaufman Elementary School a good school?

M. J. Kaufman Elementary School ranks 280^th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate M. J. Kaufman 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.