For the 2026 school year, there are 28 public elementary schools serving 13,085 students in Lake Charles, LA.
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Lake Charles, LA are T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, Prien Lake Elementary School and Lebleu Settlement Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Lake Charles, LA public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the Louisiana public elementary school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 43% statewide average). Elementary schools in Lake Charles have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of Louisiana public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Louisiana public elementary school average of 59% (majority Black).
Best Public Elementary Schools in Lake Charles, LA (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
2711 Common Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4680
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4680
Gr: K-5 | 300 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #22.
Prien Lake Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3741 Nelson Road
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4910
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4910
Gr: PK-5 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #33.
Lebleu Settlement Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6509 Hwy 3059
Lake Charles, LA 70615
(337) 217-4880
Lake Charles, LA 70615
(337) 217-4880
Gr: PK-5 | 386 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #44.
A. A. Nelson Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1001 Country Club Road
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4790
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4790
Gr: PK-5 | 736 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #55.
Dolby Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
817 Jefferson Drive
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4730
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4730
Gr: PK-5 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #66.
Moss Bluff Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
215 School Street
Lake Charles, LA 70611
(337) 217-4640
Lake Charles, LA 70611
(337) 217-4640
Gr: PK-5 | 969 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #77.
Grand Lake Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1039 Hwy 384
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 905-2231
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 905-2231
Gr: PK-6 | 351 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #88.
Moss Bluff Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1104 Recreation Blvd
Lake Charles, LA 70611
(337) 217-4570
Lake Charles, LA 70611
(337) 217-4570
Gr: 6-8 | 781 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #99.
S. J. Welsh Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1500 W Mcneese
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4410
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4410
Gr: 6-8 | 1,011 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1010.
St. John Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5566 Elliott Road
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4870
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4870
Gr: PK-5 | 670 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1111.
F. K. White Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1000 E Mcneese
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4810
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4810
Gr: 6-8 | 614 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1212.
Gillis Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
916 Topsy Road
Lake Charles, LA 70611
(337) 217-4550
Lake Charles, LA 70611
(337) 217-4550
Gr: PK-5 | 650 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #1313.
M. J. Kaufman Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
301 Tekel Road
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4740
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4740
Gr: PK-5 | 308 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1414.
Lake Charles Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3160 Power Center Parkway
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 475-7900
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 475-7900
Gr: PK-8 | 951 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1515.
T. H. Watkins Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2501 Seventh Avenue
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4590
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4590
Gr: K-5 | 165 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Combre-fondel Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2115 Fitzenrieter Rd.
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4890
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4890
Gr: K-5 | 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Henry Heights Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3600 Louisiana Avenue
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4620
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4620
Gr: PK-5 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #1818.
Brentwood Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3825 Brentwood Avenue
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4610
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4610
Gr: PK-5 | 272 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1919.
Oak Park Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2001 18th Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4850
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4850
Gr: PK-5 | 259 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2020.
College Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3618 Ernest Street
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4560
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 217-4560
Gr: PK-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2121.
Barbe Elementary School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
400 Penn Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4600
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4600
Gr: PK-5 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2222.
Oak Park Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2200 Oak Park Blvd
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4830
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4830
Gr: 6-8 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2323.
Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2300 Medora
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(318) 217-4710
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(318) 217-4710
Gr: 6-8 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2424.
Pearl Watson Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1300 5th Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4860
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4860
Gr: PK-5 | 219 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2525.
Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1700 East Mcneese Street
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 475-7910
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 475-7910
Gr: PK-8 | 852 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2626.
Fairview Elementary School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3955 Gerstner Mem. Drive
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4490
Lake Charles, LA 70607
(337) 217-4490
Gr: PK-5 | 518 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2727.
John J. Johnson Ii Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
500 Malcolm Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4900
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4900
Gr: PK-2 | 131 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2828.
Ralph F. Wilson Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1400 Opelousas Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4750
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 217-4750
Gr: 3-5 | 92 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public elementary schools in Lake Charles, LA?
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Lake Charles, LA include T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, Prien Lake Elementary School and Lebleu Settlement Elementary School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Lake Charles?
28 public elementary schools are located in Lake Charles.
What is the racial composition of students in Lake Charles?
Lake Charles public elementary schools minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Louisiana public elementary schools average of 59% (majority Black).
Which public elementary schools in Lake Charles are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary schools in Lake Charles include: Gillis Elementary School vs. Moss Bluff Elementary School, Moss Bluff Elementary School vs. Gillis Elementary School, Ralph F. Wilson Elementary School vs. John J. Johnson Ii Elementary School
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
