ReNEW Laurel Elementary vs Lake Forest Elementary Charter School

ReNEW Laurel Elementary and Lake Forest Elementary Charter School rank among Louisiana's best, but they occupy distinct positions on the state ladder. ReNEW Laurel Elementary holds an overall rating of 9.7/10 and ranks #2 of 1,288 schools in Louisiana — placing it at the very top of every public school in the state. Lake Forest Elementary Charter School earns an 8.9/10 and ranks #37 of 1,288, which is still an exceptional position but represents a gap of 0.8 rating points and 35 rank positions separating the two schools.

The academic and growth scores reveal a meaningful split in how each school excels. Lake Forest Elementary Charter School edges ahead on raw academic proficiency with a perfect 10.0/10 academic score, compared to ReNEW Laurel Elementary's 9.6/10 — a four-point gap favoring Lake Forest. ReNEW Laurel Elementary reverses that advantage on growth, scoring 9.7/10 versus Lake Forest Elementary Charter School's 9.4/10. In practical terms, ReNEW Laurel is producing stronger year-over-year learning gains per student, while Lake Forest students arrive at or sustain higher absolute proficiency levels.

The two schools serve near-identical enrollment — 649 students at ReNEW Laurel Elementary versus 654 at Lake Forest Elementary Charter School — but differ sharply on classroom density and economic composition. ReNEW Laurel Elementary's student-teacher ratio is 12.2:1, compared to 14.9:1 at Lake Forest, meaning roughly three fewer students per teacher. That translates to meaningfully more individualized attention. ReNEW Laurel Elementary also serves a higher-need population: 89% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch versus 70% at Lake Forest Elementary Charter School, a 19-point difference that contextualizes how significant the growth score gap actually is.

One structural difference matters for families with young children: ReNEW Laurel Elementary begins enrollment at Pre-K, while Lake Forest Elementary Charter School starts at Kindergarten. Families seeking a Pre-K placement within a high-performing charter model have only one option between these two schools. Both serve through grade 8, and the two campuses sit 10.2 miles apart — enough separation that location will be a practical factor for most New Orleans families.