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J. I. Watson Elementary School

Q: Is J. I. Watson Elementary School a good school?

J. I. Watson Elementary School ranks 311 th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

311^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Elementary Schools

Better than 55% of Louisiana elementary schools

Summary

J. I. Watson Elementary School in Iowa, LA, is a mid-sized elementary school serving 531 students in grades PK-5 within the well-regarded Calcasieu Parish school district. The school has shown a remarkable turnaround over the past decade, rising from a 1-star rating to a consistent 3-star rating for the last four years, and now performs above state averages in both Math (74% proficient vs. 62% state) and English Language Arts (73% vs. 70% state).

What truly sets J. I. Watson apart from nearby schools is its exceptional support for all students. The school ranks in the 79th percentile statewide for its work with Special Education students—a 4-star rating that far surpasses any other school in the area. It also earns a solid 3-star rating for its effectiveness with students from low socio-economic backgrounds, achieving strong results despite 74% of its students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. This is a stark contrast to nearby schools like Fairview Elementary and Oak Park Elementary, which have lower poverty rates but significantly lower test scores. Even compared to the top-performing LeBleu Settlement Elementary (93rd percentile), J. I. Watson's performance is commendable given it serves a population with higher economic need.

While the school excels in Math and ELA, Social Studies is an area for growth, with only 53% of students proficient (below the state average of 55%). The school also faces a challenge with chronic absenteeism at 24.4%, which is higher than the district and state averages. Interestingly, J. I. Watson achieves its strong academic results despite this higher absenteeism rate, a testament to the effectiveness of its in-school instruction. For parents seeking a school that has demonstrated consistent improvement and provides strong support for diverse learners, J. I. Watson is a standout choice in the region.

531

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,789

Per pupil spending ?

74%

Free/discounted lunch ?

201 E First St
Iowa, LA 70647

(337) 217-4670

District: Calcasieu Parish

Students who attend J. I. Watson Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Iowa High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.3%

African American:

44.1%

Hispanic:

4.9%

See top rated Louisiana elementary schools

Compare J. I. Watson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 25th percentile in 2016 → 55th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 30 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Louisiana median (55th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg68%

Louisiana avg62%

311^th of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Top 45%▲ up 29 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to top 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^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	58.3	311 of 690	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.3	286 of 666	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	296 of 675	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.0	330 of 730	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.0	396 of 727	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.7	391 of 729	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.5	389 of 731	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.9	336 of 728	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	44.5	452 of 739	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	31.5	553 of 742	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	43.3	489 of 792	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	43.1	475 of 777	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	50.6	411 of 772	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.6	414 of 764	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.1	403 of 766	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.5	382 of 736	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	50.7	418 of 738	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	49.0	415 of 743	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	40.5	467 of 725	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	56.7	214 of 548	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.3	154 of 501	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.2	162 of 509	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.1	122 of 570	78.6%	★★★★☆
2022	46.4	290 of 562	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.3	265 of 564	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.7	301 of 559	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.0	182 of 547	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2018	40.1	169 of 281	39.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	55.7	325 of 679	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.2	342 of 633	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.4	364 of 635	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.0	376 of 705	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.5	341 of 701	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.0	331 of 705	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.5	342 of 684	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	56.7	302 of 685	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.2	248 of 661	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.9	293 of 674	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.6	308 of 723	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	37.7	469 of 724	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.2	351 of 719	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.6	395 of 697	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.5	347 of 682	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	63.5	272 of 682	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.3	255 of 641	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.5	295 of 651	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.6	233 of 713	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.7	390 of 712	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.0	385 of 704	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.5	392 of 696	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	72.1	77 of 361	78.7%	★★★★☆
2025	53.4	111 of 241	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.2	80 of 208	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.7	61 of 296	79.4%	★★★★☆
2022	42.4	181 of 307	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.1	268 of 306	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	49.7	159 of 333	52.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	41.6	330 of 496	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.9	254 of 431	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.8	326 of 434	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	59.0	226 of 518	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.4	406 of 517	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.7	358 of 522	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.3	370 of 517	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.5	387 of 516	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2026)79th percentile+24 vs school

African American (2026)61st percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)60th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)56th percentile~ school

Female (2026)52nd percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2018)40th percentile-14 vs school

White (2026)33rd percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics74%+12 vs state

English Language Arts73%+3 vs state

Social Studies53%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near J. I. Watson 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 7th 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
J. I. Watson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	201 E First St	Iowa	70647	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4670	531	42	12.6	74.0%	246 (46.3%)	234 (44.1%)	26 (4.9%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.0%)	58.3	311^th of 690 public elementary schools	54.9%		61.3	286^th of 666 public elementary schools	57.1%	25	62.0						74.0	65.0	78.0	76.0				73.0	56.0	56.0	46.0				53.0	$16,789
LeBleu Settlement Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6509 Hwy 3059	Lake Charles	70615	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4880	386	27	14.1	53.6%	298 (77.2%)	57 (14.8%)	10 (2.6%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.7%)	90.4	48^th of 690 public elementary schools	93.0%		92.7	33^rd of 666 public elementary schools	95.0%	15	81.0		95.0				89.0	79.0	90.0	90.0				85.0	71.0	79.0	82.0				78.0	$14,820
Henry Mayfield Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	31820 Highway 90 West	Slidell	70460	St. Tammany Parish	St. Tammany Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(985) 643-5693	749	63	11.9	60.6%	344 (45.9%)	297 (39.7%)	43 (5.7%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (7.9%)	51.5	353^rd of 690 public elementary schools	48.8%		44.1	393^rd of 666 public elementary schools	41.0%	40	57.0	71.0		68.0			66.0	59.0	68.0		80.0			70.0	49.0	48.0	44.0	54.0			49.0	$16,591
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
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
Fenton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	509 First Street	Fenton	70640	Jefferson Davis Parish	Jefferson Davis Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 756-2326	73	12	6.0	69.9%	39 (53.4%)	19 (26.0%)	4 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (11.0%)								(n/a)	59.0				60.0		65.0	41.0				70.0		58.0					40.0		25.0	$24,817
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
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
Combre-Fondel Elementary School	Public	K-5	2115 Fitzenrieter Rd.	Lake Charles	70601	Calcasieu Parish	Calcasieu Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(337) 217-4890	426	31	13.8	85.7%	10 (2.3%)	401 (94.1%)	7 (1.6%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	40.8	435^th of 690 public elementary schools	37.0%		43.9	394^th of 666 public elementary schools	40.8%	41	62.0	68.0	50.0				60.0	57.0	70.0					62.0	38.0	48.0	37.0				41.0	$16,822
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

Frequently Asked Questions about J. I. Watson Elementary School

How many students attend J. I. Watson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 531 students attended J. I. Watson Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of J. I. Watson Elementary School?

Students at J. I. Watson Elementary School are 46% White, 44% African American, 5% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of J. I. Watson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend J. I. Watson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Iowa High School

Is J. I. Watson Elementary School a good school?

J. I. Watson Elementary School ranks 311^th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is J. I. Watson Elementary School in?

Calcasieu Parish

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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.