Excellent
#16 of 1,288 schools in LA
Top 1% in state
Prien Lake Elementary School
Elementary School · Calcasieu Parish
3741 Nelson Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605
Enrollment
703
Student-Teacher
15.3:1
Score
9.2
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
703
Student-Teacher
15.3:1
Score
9.2
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Lake Charles
#4 of 34
public schools
Louisiana elementary schools
#8 of 703
In district
#5 of 55
Calcasieu Parish
Academic growth
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Prien Lake Elementary School
Prien Lake Elementary serves 703 students in Lake Charles, Louisiana, from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It's a regular public school with a 15.3-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a composite score of 9.2 out of 10, earning an Exceptional rating. The data put Prien Lake in rare company.
It ranks #16 among 1,288 public schools in Louisiana, outperforming 99% of schools statewide. Within Lake Charles, it places fourth out of 34, and eighth among all 703 elementary schools in the state. Those standings reflect consistent performance across both academic achievement and growth — not a spike in one area.
Growth is where Prien Lake particularly stands out, scoring 9.5 out of 10. That figure measures how much students advance relative to academic peers — not just where they start. Combined with a 9.2 academic score, the school shows that strong baseline results and accelerated learning can coexist.
For families evaluating elementary options in Lake Charles, the combination of local standing and statewide rank makes Prien Lake a hard school to argue against.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Prien Lake Elementary School — Students at Prien Lake Elementary School score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
43.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores LA LEAP (2024-25)
Based on 18 test records from LA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.5/10.
How Prien Lake Elementary School Compares
See how Prien Lake Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 90% (2019) to 70% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 89% (2019) to 78% (2022).
Location
3741 Nelson Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Prien Lake Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School (rated 8.8/10, 2.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is ST MARGARET CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 2.9 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, A. A. Nelson Elementary School (rated 8.0/10, 1.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lake Charles, see our Lake Charles schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.6 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 70605 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$88,337
Median Home Value
$293,800
Median Rent
$1,348/mo
Population
40,715
College Educated
42.3%
Homeownership
72.3%
Avg Commute
18.3 min
Poverty Rate
10%
Median Age
35
Community Profile
The community surrounding Prien Lake Elementary School has a median household income of $88,337. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $293,800, with a median rent of $1,348/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.0%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Bullion Primary School Prairieville, LA | 9.1 |
| Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School Baton Rouge, LA | 9.1 |
| B. R. Foreign Language Acad. Immersion Magnet Baton Rouge, LA | 9.3 |
| Homer Plessy Community School New Orleans, LA | 9.3 |
| Belle Chasse Academy Belle Chasse, LA | 9.0 |
| Provencal Elementary & Junior High School Provencal, LA | 9.0 |
Compare Prien Lake Elementary School with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Prien Lake Elementary School
What grades does Prien Lake Elementary School serve?
Prien Lake Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Prien Lake Elementary School?
Prien Lake Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 703 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prien Lake Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prien Lake Elementary School is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Prien Lake Elementary School rank in LA?
Prien Lake Elementary School is ranked #16 out of 1,288 schools in LA.
What is Prien Lake Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Prien Lake Elementary School has a composite rating of 9.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Prien Lake Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Prien Lake Elementary School has 74.0% math proficiency and 79.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Prien Lake Elementary School a charter school?
No, Prien Lake Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Prien Lake Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Prien Lake Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prien Lake Elementary School?
43.2% of students at Prien Lake Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Lake Charles). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 703
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 46
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 43.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Calcasieu Parish
- Phone
- (337) 217-4910
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Calcasieu Parish- District Enrollment
- 29,282
- Schools in District
- 56
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,724
- District Rank
- #5 of 55
Compare This School
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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