Summary:
In zip code 70611, there is one high school, Sam Houston High School, serving grades 9 through 12 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with a total enrollment of 1,141 students.
Sam Houston High School is a standout academic leader within the Calcasieu Parish district and across the state. It has earned a 4-star rating and ranks 39th out of 325 schools in Louisiana, placing it in the 88th percentile. The school consistently outperforms both the district and state averages in every tested subject, including Algebra I, Geometry, English I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History. Its graduation rate is exceptionally high at 94.8%, and its dropout rate of 1.4% is significantly lower than the district's 2.2% and the state's 3.1%. The school has shown rapid improvement, moving from a state ranking of 70th to 39th over the last three years, with notable gains in Algebra I proficiency jumping from 72% to 85%.
Despite these strong academic outcomes, a key concern is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 26.7%—higher than both the district's 20.9% and the state's 22.5%. This paradox suggests that while attending students perform at a high level, a substantial portion of the student body is missing critical school days. The school's free/reduced lunch eligibility rate of 34.27% is relatively low, which often correlates with higher performance, making the absenteeism issue even more puzzling. Overall, Sam Houston High School offers excellent academics and a strong trajectory of improvement, but parents should be aware of the chronic absenteeism challenge that may affect overall student engagement.
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