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Excellent

#59 of 1,288 schools in LA

Top 5% in state

S. J. Welsh Middle School

Middle School · Calcasieu Parish

1500 W McNeese, Lake Charles, LA 70605

Enrollment

1,031

Student-Teacher

11.1:1

Score

8.9

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Louisiana schools

#59 of 1,288

In Lake Charles

#5 of 34

public schools

In district

#7 of 55

Calcasieu Parish

School environment

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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S. J. Welsh Middle School

8.9/10

Middle School in Lake Charles · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

F. K. White Middle School

9.2/10

Lake Charles, LA. Compare side by side with S. J. Welsh Middle School before ruling this option in or out.

Oak Park Middle School

8.6/10

Lake Charles, LA. Compare side by side with S. J. Welsh Middle School before ruling this option in or out.

About S. J. Welsh Middle School

S. J. Welsh Middle School is a public middle school in Lake Charles, LA, part of Calcasieu Parish.

S. J. Welsh Middle School serves approximately 1,031 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio.

S. J. Welsh Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #59 of 1,288 schools in LA.

Structured state assessment records for S. J. Welsh Middle School show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.2
  • LA avg 6.8

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.0Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.83 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.4Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency100% (2025 LEAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency53.7% (2025 LEAP)
Math vs. State Avg+66.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.8 pts
Overall Proficiency77% (2025 LEAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)54% (model expectation from 2025 LEAP)
vs. Expected+23.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile91th
Resources & Environment9.6Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,724
Chronic Absenteeism15%

S. J. Welsh Middle School — Students at S. J. Welsh Middle School score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

49.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores LA LEAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 60.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
31.9% (2025 LEAP)
ELA Proficiency 67.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (2025 LEAP)

Based on 41 test records from LA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
66%
ELA
76%
2010
Math
68%
ELA
81%
2011
Math
74%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
75%
ELA
81%
2013
Math
73%
ELA
76%
2014
Math
60%
ELA
73%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
80%
2016
Math
63%
ELA
74%
2017
Math
65%
ELA
78%
2018
Math
64%
ELA
78%
2019
Math
64%
ELA
78%
2020*
Math
28%
ELA
44%
2021*
Math
28%
ELA
44%
2022
Math
38%
ELA
49%
2025
Math
62%
ELA
53.7%

* 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: 8.0/10.

How S. J. Welsh Middle School Compares

See how S. J. Welsh Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.9/10
96th percentile in LA
Academic
9.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.0/10
Excellent
Environment
9.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
50%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
93 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1500 W McNeese, Lake Charles, LA 70605

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering S. J. Welsh Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Prien Lake Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 0.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is F. K. White Middle School (rated 9.2/10, 2.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School (rated 9.1/10, 2.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Lake Charles, see our Lake Charles schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Alfred M. Barbe High School Lake Charles 0.7 mi 6.9
A. A. Nelson Elementary School Lake Charles 0.8 mi 7.7
Prien Lake Elementary School Lake Charles 0.9 mi 9.2
OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL Lake Charles 1.1 mi 6.2
Dolby Elementary School Lake Charles 1.4 mi 7.5
College Oaks Elementary School Lake Charles 1.6 mi 5.6
St. John Elementary School Lake Charles 2.0 mi 6.6
M. J. Kaufman Elementary School Lake Charles 2.1 mi 5.5
Barbe Elementary School Lake Charles 2.4 mi 5.4
F. K. White Middle School Lake Charles 2.2 mi 9.2
Henry Heights Elementary School Lake Charles 2.5 mi 5.2
T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School Lake Charles 2.6 mi 9.1
LaGrange High School Lake Charles 2.5 mi 5.6
Brentwood Elementary School Lake Charles 2.7 mi 7.0
Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy Lake Charles 2.9 mi 4.0
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Lake Charles 3.3 mi 5.7
ST MARGARET CATHOLIC SCHOOL Lake Charles 3.2 mi 8.1
ST LOUIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Lake Charles 3.6 mi 5.6
Oak Park Elementary School Lake Charles 3.7 mi 5.3
Pearl Watson Elementary School Lake Charles 4.0 mi 5.5

Neighborhood 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

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Harry M. Hurst Middle School Destrehan, LA 8.9
Galvez Middle School Prairieville, LA 9.0
J.B. Martin Middle School Paradis, LA 8.8
Sherwood Middle Academic Academy Baton Rouge, LA 8.8
Central Middle School Gonzales, LA 8.7
F. K. White Middle School Lake Charles, LA 9.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about S. J. Welsh Middle School

What grades does S. J. Welsh Middle School serve?

S. J. Welsh Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend S. J. Welsh Middle School?

S. J. Welsh Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 1,031 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at S. J. Welsh Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at S. J. Welsh Middle School is 11.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does S. J. Welsh Middle School rank in LA?

S. J. Welsh Middle School ranks #59 of 1,288 schools in LA.

What is S. J. Welsh Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

S. J. Welsh Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at S. J. Welsh Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, S. J. Welsh Middle School has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is S. J. Welsh Middle School a charter school?

No, S. J. Welsh Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is S. J. Welsh Middle School a Title I school?

No, S. J. Welsh Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for S. J. Welsh Middle School?

49.5% of students at S. J. Welsh Middle 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
52 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does S. J. Welsh Middle School stack up?

F. K. White Middle School
9.2
Oak Park Middle School
8.6
Moss Bluff Middle School
8.5
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
1,031
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
93
Free/Reduced Lunch
49.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Calcasieu Parish
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.0%

District

Calcasieu Parish
District Enrollment
29,282
Schools in District
56
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,724
District Rank
#7 of 55

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