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N.S.U. Elementary Lab School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

11^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 690 Louisiana Elementary Schools

Better than 98% of Louisiana elementary schools

Summary

N.S.U. Elementary Lab School is a small, PK-5 elementary school on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, serving 290 students and standing out as one of the highest-performing elementary schools in the entire state. This school is a true academic powerhouse, ranking 11th out of 690 elementary schools in Louisiana for the 2025-2026 school year, placing it in the 98th percentile statewide. Its test scores are remarkably high, with 95% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 93% proficient in math, far exceeding the Natchitoches Parish district averages of 73% and 59%, respectively. In fact, the next highest-ranked nearby school, Provencal Elementary & Junior High School, ranks 175th, highlighting the exceptional performance gap.

What truly sets N.S.U. Elementary apart is its consistent excellence across all student groups, including those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, who score in the 98th percentile. The school also boasts an incredibly low chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.4%, compared to 19.3% for the district and over 22% at nearby schools like Fairview-Alpha Elementary & Junior High School (28.8%). This strong attendance culture is a key driver of its academic success, ensuring students are consistently in class and ready to learn.

As a university laboratory school, N.S.U. Elementary benefits from a close partnership with Northwestern State University, which likely provides access to innovative teaching methods and a highly motivated staff. This model has produced sustained excellence for over a decade, with the school ranking in the 95th percentile or higher for nine of the last ten years. For parents seeking a school where every child—regardless of background—can thrive, N.S.U. Elementary Lab School offers a proven track record of equity and high achievement that is unmatched in the region.

290

Students ?

16.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,912

Per pupil spending ?

31.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

#1 Caldwell NSU Campus-W Easto
Natchitoches, LA 71497

(318) 238-6385

District: Natchitoches Parish

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.0%

African American:

16.2%

Hispanic:

5.5%

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Compare N.S.U. Elementary Lab School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 97th percentile in 2015 → 98th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Louisiana average (97% vs 64% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of Louisiana elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Natchitoches Parish

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school97%

District avg66%

Louisiana avg64%

11^th of 690

Louisiana public elementary schools ?

Top 2%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Louisiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 5Elementary Schools in the Natchitoches Parish

21^st of 116Natchitoches 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	96.9	11 of 690	98.4%	★★★★★
2025	95.7	14 of 666	97.9%	★★★★★
2023	95.5	21 of 730	97.1%	★★★★★
2022	88.3	62 of 727	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	93.8	25 of 729	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	91.7	33 of 731	95.5%	★★★★★
2018	89.3	26 of 728	96.4%	★★★★★
2017	90.0	30 of 739	95.9%	★★★★★
2016	90.3	31 of 742	95.8%	★★★★★
2015	92.0	25 of 792	96.8%	★★★★★
2014	91.1	26 of 777	96.7%	★★★★★
2013	88.5	41 of 772	94.7%	★★★★★
2012	89.5	37 of 764	95.2%	★★★★★
2011	91.8	28 of 766	96.3%	★★★★★
2010	91.3	28 of 736	96.2%	★★★★★
2009	92.0	22 of 738	97.0%	★★★★★
2008	80.2	124 of 743	83.3%	★★★★☆
2007	88.9	45 of 725	93.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	94.9	27 of 548	95.1%	★★★★★
2019	95.4	19 of 559	96.6%	★★★★★
2018	93.6	26 of 547	95.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	96.4	12 of 679	98.2%	★★★★★
2025	96.1	8 of 633	98.7%	★★★★★
2023	95.8	18 of 705	97.4%	★★★★★
2022	92.0	33 of 701	95.3%	★★★★★
2021	93.2	22 of 705	96.9%	★★★★★
2019	93.3	21 of 684	96.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	97.6	12 of 685	98.2%	★★★★★
2025	95.2	24 of 661	96.4%	★★★★★
2024	91.1	38 of 674	94.4%	★★★★★
2023	97.3	15 of 723	97.9%	★★★★★
2022	90.3	36 of 724	95.0%	★★★★★
2021	87.7	52 of 719	92.8%	★★★★★
2019	92.3	25 of 697	96.4%	★★★★★
2018	94.7	21 of 682	96.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	96.6	13 of 682	98.1%	★★★★★
2025	94.4	17 of 641	97.3%	★★★★★
2024	95.3	14 of 651	97.8%	★★★★★
2023	89.8	49 of 713	93.1%	★★★★★
2022	82.1	109 of 712	84.7%	★★★★☆
2021	83.6	99 of 704	85.9%	★★★★☆
2019	85.7	76 of 696	89.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Louisiana percentile	Rating
2026	92.7	15 of 496	97.0%	★★★★★
2025	94.8	6 of 431	98.6%	★★★★★
2023	91.7	24 of 518	95.4%	★★★★★
2022	80.0	77 of 517	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	89.3	34 of 522	93.5%	★★★★★
2019	84.8	37 of 517	92.8%	★★★★★
2018	83.2	53 of 516	89.7%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)98th percentile~ school

Female (2026)98th percentile~ school

Male (2026)98th percentile~ school

White (2026)97th percentile~ school

African American (2026)95th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Louisiana (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics100%+33 vs state

English Language Arts95%+25 vs state

Social Studies95%+40 vs state

★

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Schools Near N.S.U. Elementary Lab 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 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
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School	Public	PK, KG-5	#1 Caldwell NSU Campus-W Easto	Natchitoches	71497	Natchitoches Parish	Natchitoches Parish	No	No	No	No	(318) 238-6385	290	18	16.3	31.4%	206 (71.0%)	47 (16.2%)	16 (5.5%)	7 (2.4%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.8%)	96.9	11^th of 690 public elementary schools	98.4%		95.7	14^th of 666 public elementary schools	97.9%	3		100.0						92.0	94.0				95.0	92.0						95.0	$16,912
M.R. Weaver Elementary School	Public	3-4	520 St.Maurice Lane	Natchitoches	71457	Natchitoches Parish	Natchitoches Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 352-3623	379	28	13.3	97.1%	30 (7.9%)	301 (79.4%)	27 (7.1%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.5%)	34.7	474^th of 690 public elementary schools	31.3%		37.5	436^th of 666 public elementary schools	34.5%	38	41.0	48.0	51.0				47.0	48.0	65.0				60.0	44.0	60.0	50.0				51.0	$17,930
L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Middle School	Public	PK, KG-2	1500 Gold Street	Natchitoches	71457	Natchitoches Parish	Natchitoches Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 352-2369	687	51	13.3	90.7%	67 (9.8%)	568 (82.7%)	35 (5.1%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.7%)								(n/a)																					$15,867
Provencal Elementary & Junior High School	Public	PK, KG-8	132 Cherry Street	Provencal	71468	Natchitoches Parish	Natchitoches Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 472-6174	444	40	11.0	89.2%	308 (69.4%)	104 (23.4%)	9 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.8%)	76	175^th of 690 public elementary schools	74.6%		80.4	124^th of 666 public elementary schools	81.4%	51	47.0	71.0		84.0	84.0	90.0	79.0	73.0	89.0	94.0	87.0	85.0	87.0	50.0	81.0	77.0	71.0	76.0	84.0	73.0	$17,559
Fairview-Alpha Elementary & Junior High School	Public	PK, KG-6	1439 Highway 71	Campti	71411	Natchitoches Parish	Natchitoches Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 476-4616	278	26	10.5	89.9%	122 (43.9%)	138 (49.6%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.7%)	78.8	143^rd of 690 public elementary schools	79.3%		44.4	389^th of 666 public elementary schools	41.6%	246	81.0	65.0	63.0				70.0	76.0	81.0	84.0			79.0	74.0	72.0	80.0				75.0	$17,968
Marthaville Elementary & Junior High School	Public	PK, KG-8	10800 Hwy. 120	Marthaville	71450	Natchitoches Parish	Natchitoches Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 472-6141	196	21	9.4	90.3%	154 (78.6%)	16 (8.2%)	8 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.6%)	72.7	209^th of 690 public elementary schools	69.7%		63.3	271^st of 666 public elementary schools	59.3%	62	72.0	50.0	76.0		91.0	90.0	80.0	64.0	79.0	94.0	77.0	90.0	83.0	60.0	65.0	71.0	83.0	86.0	80.0	75.0	$22,620
Verda Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2580 Highway 122	Montgomery	71454	Grant Parish	Grant Parish	No	No	No	Yes	(318) 646-3146	308	25	12.4	82.8%	207 (67.2%)	76 (24.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.5%)	26.7	542^nd of 690 public elementary schools	21.4%		26.8	514^th of 666 public elementary schools	22.8%	28	56.0	46.0	27.0				44.0	67.0	68.0	44.0			62.0	27.0	36.0					26.0	$16,479

Frequently Asked Questions about N.S.U. Elementary Lab School

What is the racial makeup of N.S.U. Elementary Lab School?

Students at N.S.U. Elementary Lab School are 71% White, 16% African American, 6% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian.

Is N.S.U. Elementary Lab School a good school?

Yes! N.S.U. Elementary Lab School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 11^th of 690 Louisiana elementary schools.

What district is N.S.U. Elementary Lab School in?

Natchitoches Parish

How many students attend N.S.U. Elementary Lab School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 290 students attended N.S.U. Elementary Lab School.

Rate N.S.U. Elementary Lab 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.