Summary:
The 11 public schools in zip code 70601, Lake Charles, Louisiana, are part of the Calcasieu Parish school district and serve a predominantly elementary-aged population, with 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school, in an area where an average of 82.4% of students are economically disadvantaged.
The most striking feature of this zip code is the extreme disparity between T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School and all other schools. Cooley is a top-tier magnet school ranked 2nd in Louisiana with 100% proficiency in all subjects and a low 15% free/reduced lunch rate, while the other ten schools serve a high-poverty population and struggle to meet state averages. At the other end, Ralph F. Wilson Elementary School and John J. Johnson II Elementary School are the most challenged, with 0-star ratings, proficiency rates often below 50%, and poverty rates exceeding 95%. The only high school, Washington/Marion Magnet High School, has a concerning 1-star rating and 37.6% chronic absenteeism, though its 88.5% graduation rate is above the state average. Notably, the "magnet" label does not guarantee success here, as Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet School also struggles with a 1-star rating and 39.3% chronic absenteeism.
Chronic absenteeism is a systemic crisis, averaging 26.4% across the zip code—higher than both district and state averages—and is a key driver of low academic performance. Smaller class sizes do not ensure success, as the lowest-performing schools have the smallest student-teacher ratios, while Cooley has the largest. A bright spot is Oak Park Middle School, which shows positive momentum, improving from the 13th to the 35th percentile in state rankings over two years. For parents, this data reveals a community where a single elite magnet school offers exceptional opportunities, but most other schools face significant challenges tied to poverty and attendance, making school choice critical.
Thank you for your feedback!