Muller's Department Store · Photo: CTtcg · CC BY-SA 4.0Lake Charles’s public schools outscore 81% of Louisiana districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Lake Charles, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. On the state math tests, 36% of Lake Charles’s students scored proficient, above the Louisiana average (32%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Louisiana, not nationally.
From Louisiana state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Lake Charles’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 183 Louisiana towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lake Charles’s, its schools beat 66%, lower than their 81% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 47% and math 36% in spring 2022, against 42% and 32% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $17,252 per student, against $15,623 across Louisiana (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
14 elementary schools, then four middle and three high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Lake Charles Charter Academy, Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy, Lake Charles College Prep, Our Lady Queen of Heaven School (private), Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School (private), Immaculate Conception Cathedral School (private), St. Margaret Catholic School (private) and Covenant Grace Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Lake Charles’s grade
A−: better than 81% of Louisiana school districts, #51 of 162 Louisiana towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Louisiana average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lake Charles, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in Lake Charles · depends on your address
Alfred M. Barbe High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,908 students · 17:1 students per teacher
LaGrange High School
Grades 9–12 · 881 students · 9:1 students per teacher
Washington/Marion Magnet High School
Grades 9–12 · 597 students · 13:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Lake Charles · depends on your address
Alfred M. Barbe High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,908 students · 17:1 students per teacher
LaGrange High School
Grades 9–12 · 881 students · 9:1 students per teacher
Washington/Marion Magnet High School
Grades 9–12 · 597 students · 13:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Lake Charles · depends on your address
Alfred M. Barbe High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,908 students · 17:1 students per teacher
LaGrange High School
Grades 9–12 · 881 students · 9:1 students per teacher
Washington/Marion Magnet High School
Grades 9–12 · 597 students · 13:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Lake Charles · depends on your address
Alfred M. Barbe High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,908 students · 17:1 students per teacher
LaGrange High School
Grades 9–12 · 881 students · 9:1 students per teacher
Washington/Marion Magnet High School
Grades 9–12 · 597 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Lake Charles’s public schools are run by Calcasieu Parish School District, which also serves DeQuincy, Iowa, Sulphur and Vinton and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Above the state in reading
Lake Charles vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Louisiana towns that share Lake Charles’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | A− | Calcasieu Parish |
Every school in Lake Charles
30 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Louisiana’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Lake Charles’s schools
Are Lake Charles’s schools good?
By Louisiana’s own tests, yes: the public schools Lake Charles children attend outscore 81% of Louisiana’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #51 of 162 Louisiana towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 66%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Lake Charles in?
Calcasieu Parish School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 27,851 students in 56 schools (2024–25).
Where do Lake Charles kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Alfred M. Barbe High School, LaGrange High School and Washington/Marion Magnet High School.
What is Lake Charles’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in Calcasieu Parish School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Louisiana.
How much does Lake Charles spend per student?
$17,252 in Calcasieu Parish School District (FY2024), against $15,623 across Louisiana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Lake Charles?
Yes: Our Lady Queen of Heaven School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 648 students), Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School (religious, grades PK–12, 430 students), Immaculate Conception Cathedral School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 387 students), St. Margaret Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 313 students) and Covenant Grace Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 81 students). Lake Charles also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Lake Charles families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lake Charles → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Louisiana. Stars are from neighbors.