Best Schools in Lafayette, Louisiana
41 schools · 20 Elementary · 5 Middle · 11 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Lafayette?
Use this page to compare every school in Lafayette by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Myrtle Place Elementary School
Elementary · Lafayette Parish. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Live Oak Elementary School
Elementary · Lafayette Parish. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Woodvale Elementary School
Elementary · Lafayette Parish. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lafayette for 2026 are Myrtle Place Elementary School (9.2/10), Live Oak Elementary School (7.7/10), and Woodvale Elementary School (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 28 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
41
28 public · 13 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$233,120
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
41
28 public · 13 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$233,120
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 31% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Lafayette schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Lafayette
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 28 rated schools; 41 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myrtle Place Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Live Oak Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Woodvale Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | L.j. Alleman Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Edgar Martin Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Willow Charter Academy | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Prairie Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Dr. Raphael A. Baranco Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy | 6.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Lafayette High School | 6.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $66,733
- Median home value
- $233,120
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 37%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lafayette compares
Louisiana rank
#106 of 139
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Louisiana avg (6.3)
Median household income
$67k
114% of Louisiana median
Schools in this city
38
Lafayette Parish runs 89% of Lafayette's public schools
Lafayette touches 4 districts, but Lafayette Parish is the one most addresses actually attend.
Lafayette Parish accounts for 25 of 28 public schools (89%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 28 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.7 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Lafayette, not a citywide average.
- Lafayette Parish25 public · 89%
- Jcfa Lafayette1 public · 4%
- Lafayette Charter Foundation1 public · 4%
- Willow Charter Academy1 public · 4%
About Schools in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette's public school landscape spans 28 ranked schools with an average rating of 6.4 out of 10 — a solid midpoint that masks real variation across the city. Parents will find meaningful differences depending on neighborhood and grade level, so school selection here rewards active research rather than assumption.
Elementary options lead the city in performance. Myrtle Place Elementary tops all 28 ranked schools with a 9.0 out of 10, placing it among the strongest public elementary programs in the region. Woodvale Elementary (8.4) and Broadmoor Elementary (7.8) round out a competitive elementary tier that gives families real choices at the youngest grade levels. Eleven of Lafayette's 28 ranked schools — 39% — score 7 or higher, meaning high-performing options exist across multiple grade bands, not just at the elementary level.
The middle and high school picture holds up. Edgar Martin Middle School scores 8.6 out of 10, the second-highest rating in the entire city and a strong bridge between Lafayette's top elementary feeders and upper grades. At the high school level, David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy earns a 7.8 — the same mark as Broadmoor Elementary — and offers a specialized academic track for students with interest in science and technology fields. Magnet enrollment typically requires an application, so parents should confirm timelines and eligibility requirements directly with the school.
Practically speaking, Lafayette gives parents more high-rated options than its average score suggests. With 39% of schools clearing the 7-out-of-10 threshold, families who do neighborhood-level research are likely to find quality across elementary, middle, and high school stages. Ratings, however, reflect one data dimension. Visit schools, review test performance trends, and ask about extracurricular offerings and class sizes before finalizing decisions. Lafayette's range from its lowest-rated schools to Myrtle Place's 9.0 is wide enough that address and magnet access can make a significant difference in a child's educational experience.
Elementary Schools
20 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 374 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 570 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 845 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 613 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.1 |
| 5 | 674 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 6 | 291 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.0 |
| 7 | 425 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 8 | 773 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 9 | 642 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 10 | 430 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
Show all 20 elementary schools in Lafayette
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 903 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 513 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 3 | 372 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 4 | 633 students · 5th–8th | 5.5 |
| 5 | 388 students · 6th–8th | 3.8 |
High Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,366 students · 6th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 1,862 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 177 students · 7th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 4 | 260 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 5 | 982 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 | ||
| 6 | 82 students · 9th–12th | 4.5 | ||
| 7 | 1,835 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 | ||
| 8 | 1,243 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 | ||
| 9 | 727 students · 9th–12th | 3.7 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 1,018 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 high schools in Lafayette
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,809 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Ascension Episcopal SchoolPrivate 553 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Episcopal School of AcadianaPrivate 491 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 408 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Lafayette Christian AcademyPrivate 957 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana · 41 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$66,733
Median Home Value
$233,120
Median Rent
$1,032/mo
Population
155,968
College Educated
37%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
19.0%
Community Profile
Lafayette has a median household income of $66,733. It is an area where 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $233,120, with a median rent of $1,032/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.0%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Louisiana
- Elementary
- 20
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 11
- Other
- 5
Resources
Other Major Cities in Louisiana
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Lafayette, Louisiana
How many schools are in Lafayette, Louisiana?
Lafayette has 41 schools, including 28 public and 13 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lafayette, Louisiana?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lafayette is 5.8 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Lafayette, Louisiana?
The top-ranked school in Lafayette on MySchoolScout is Myrtle Place Elementary School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lafayette, Louisiana?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lafayette on MySchoolScout is Myrtle Place Elementary School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Lafayette, Louisiana?
The top-ranked middle school in Lafayette on MySchoolScout is L.j. Alleman Middle School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best high school in Lafayette, Louisiana?
The top-ranked high school in Lafayette on MySchoolScout is David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Lafayette, Louisiana?
Lafayette is served by 4 school districts: Lafayette Charter Foundation, Willow Charter Academy, Jcfa Lafayette, Lafayette Parish.
What is the education level in Lafayette, Louisiana?
According to Census data, 37% of adults in Lafayette have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lafayette, Louisiana?
The median household income in Lafayette is approximately $66,733 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lafayette, Louisiana?
Yes, Lafayette has 13 private schools alongside 28 public schools. The top-rated private school is Ascension Episcopal School with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lafayette, Louisiana?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lafayette is 14.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lafayette, Louisiana?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Louisiana Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.