Summary:
In zip code 70607, there is one middle school, F. K. White Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with a total enrollment of 614 students.
F. K. White Middle School is part of the Calcasieu Parish school district and shows a mix of strengths and challenges. The school has shown positive momentum, improving its state ranking from the 39th percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 53rd percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026. A standout feature is its exceptional performance in advanced courses, with 100% of students proficient in both Algebra I and English I End of Course exams, far exceeding district and state averages. However, the school faces a significant "math gap," with overall math proficiency at 57%, which is below the state average of 62% and well behind the district average of 71%. This gap is consistent across all three grade levels, indicating a systemic issue. On a positive note, 8th graders outperformed state averages in all core subjects in 2025-2026, including math (55% vs. 52%), English Language Arts (75% vs. 69%), and Social Studies (73% vs. 61%).
Key metrics include a low student-teacher ratio of 8.7, suggesting smaller class sizes, and a dropout rate of 1.6%, which is lower than both the district (2.2%) and state (3.1%). A critical area of concern is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 26.6%, notably higher than the district (20.9%) and state (22.5%) averages. This high absenteeism rate likely impacts overall academic performance, particularly in math where sequential learning is essential. The school also has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 62.87% eligible for free or reduced lunch. Overall, F. K. White Middle School offers strong advanced programs and improving rankings, but must address its math proficiency gap and chronic absenteeism to fully support all students.
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