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T. H. Watkins Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

626^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Elementary Schools

Better than 9% of Louisiana elementary schools

Summary

T. H. Watkins Elementary School is a small K-5 public school in Lake Charles, LA, serving 165 students as part of the Calcasieu Parish school district, a high-performing district ranked in the top 27% statewide.

This school faces significant challenges. Over 90% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and it has experienced a dramatic decline in academic performance, dropping from the 32nd percentile in 2024-2025 to the 9th percentile in 2025-2026—its lowest point in a decade. Chronic absenteeism is a persistent issue, with rates consistently higher than district and state averages, reaching as high as 31.9% in recent years. While nearby schools like Brentwood Elementary School serve similarly high-poverty populations, they achieve better outcomes (Brentwood ranks in the 43rd percentile), suggesting that factors like school leadership and instructional quality may be driving the difference. The school's small class sizes (a 10:1 student-teacher ratio) are a positive feature, offering potential for individualized attention, yet this hasn't translated into improved results.

There is one notable bright spot: the 4th-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate was 63% in 2025-2026, significantly higher than the school's 3rd-grade (41%) and 5th-grade (45%) scores, suggesting a potential strength in that grade's teaching team. However, the overall picture is concerning. The sharp decline in performance across all student groups—including female, African American, and low socioeconomic status students—points to an internal issue, such as a change in leadership or high teacher turnover. For parents, this school offers small classes but currently struggles with low academic performance and high absenteeism, making it important to investigate the root causes of the recent collapse and consider how nearby schools like Brentwood achieve better results with similar demographics.

165

Students ?

10.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,609

Per pupil spending ?

90.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2501 Seventh Avenue
Lake Charles, LA 70601

(337) 217-4590

District: Calcasieu Parish

Students who attend T. H. Watkins Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Oak Park Middle School
High:	LaGrange High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

89.1%

Two or more races:

4.2%

White:

3.6%

See top rated Louisiana elementary schools

Compare T. H. Watkins Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 21st percentile in 2016 → 9th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg68%

Louisiana avg62%

626^th of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 21% (2016) to bottom 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

28^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	16.3	626 of 690	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	35.5	452 of 666	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.8	440 of 675	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.2	533 of 730	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.2	513 of 727	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	51.4	368 of 729	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.9	512 of 731	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.3	517 of 728	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.0	564 of 739	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.2	584 of 742	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.8	555 of 792	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	40.4	503 of 777	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	22.7	661 of 772	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	16.9	690 of 764	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	28.8	585 of 766	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	18.4	640 of 736	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	30.3	554 of 738	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	32.2	531 of 743	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	40.3	469 of 725	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	23.4	468 of 548	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	50.8	247 of 501	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.0	251 of 509	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.8	379 of 570	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.3	237 of 562	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.2	142 of 564	74.8%	★★★★☆
2019	48.7	292 of 559	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.4	261 of 547	52.3%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2018	53.3	122 of 281	56.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	15.6	619 of 679	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	46.1	362 of 633	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.3	328 of 635	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.0	485 of 705	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	18.4	596 of 701	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	52.3	360 of 705	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.8	445 of 684	34.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	19.5	606 of 685	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	53.8	324 of 661	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.8	364 of 674	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.1	472 of 723	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.1	436 of 724	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.7	279 of 719	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.4	475 of 697	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.4	426 of 682	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	22.1	577 of 682	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	45.7	367 of 641	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.8	459 of 651	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.1	526 of 713	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	57.2	325 of 712	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.8	351 of 704	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.9	446 of 696	35.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2018)57th percentile+28 vs school

Male (2026)15th percentile+6 vs school

African American (2026)15th percentile+5 vs school

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

Female (2026)9th percentile~ school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts48%-22 vs state

Mathematics40%-22 vs state

Social Studies34%-21 vs state

★

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Schools Near T. H. Watkins 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 6th Grade	LEAP Mathematics 8th 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 6th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	LEAP English Language Arts 8th 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 6th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 7th Grade	LEAP Social Studies 8th Grade	LEAP Social Studies All Grades	Total
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
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
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
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
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
Lake Charles Charter Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	3160 Power Center Parkway	Lake Charles	70607	Calcasieu Parish	Lake Charles Charter Academy Foundation Inc.	Yes	No	No	Yes	(337) 475-7900	951	58	16.3	85.5%	16 (1.7%)	805 (84.6%)	96 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	31 (3.3%)	32.1	490^th of 690 public elementary schools	29.0%		39.6	418^th of 666 public elementary schools	37.2%	72	37.0	57.0		50.0	55.0	47.0	51.0	61.0	66.0	65.0	71.0	66.0	64.0	36.0	54.0	42.0	43.0	54.0	54.0	47.0	$15,153
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
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
John J. Johnson II Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	500 Malcolm Street	Lake Charles	70601	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4900	131	12	10.8	96.9%	6 (4.6%)	118 (90.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.6%)	13.3	637^th of 690 public elementary schools	7.7%					(n/a)	50.0	46.0	27.0			42.0	46.0	42.0	46.0				45.0		25.0						$23,068
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

Frequently Asked Questions about T. H. Watkins Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of T. H. Watkins Elementary School?

Students at T. H. Watkins Elementary School are 89% African American, 4% Two or more races, 4% White, 3% Hispanic.

What district is T. H. Watkins Elementary School in?

Calcasieu Parish

What schools do graduates of T. H. Watkins Elementary School attend?

Students who attend T. H. Watkins Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Oak Park Middle School
High : LaGrange High School

How many students attend T. H. Watkins Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 165 students attended T. H. Watkins Elementary School.

Is T. H. Watkins Elementary School a good school?

T. H. Watkins Elementary School ranks in the bottom 9.3% of Louisiana elementary schools.

Rate T. H. Watkins Elementary School!

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Latest Louisiana data All new data »

2025–26 LEAP test scoresJul 6, 2026

2023–24 dropout ratesFeb 24, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataDec 1, 2025

2023–24 through 2024–25 graduation ratesNov 22, 2025

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.