Excellent
#59 of 1,288 schools in LA
Top 5% in state
S. J. Welsh Middle School
Middle School · Calcasieu Parish · Lake Charles, LA
A Calcasieu Parish middle school where students score 23 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1500 W McNeese, Lake Charles, LA 70605
- Math 62% vs LA 32% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs LA 43% (2025)
- 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at S. J. Welsh Middle School score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).
2025 LEAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. LA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 22 points since 2020, reaching 58% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 41 test records from LA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
49.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where S. J. Welsh Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 52Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 38Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,083/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lake Charles), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$88,337
Median home value
$293,800
Median rent
$1,348/mo
College educated
42.3%
Homeownership
72.3%
Poverty rate
10%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 70605; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F. K. White Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.2 | 6–8 | 2.2 mi | 645 | Compare → |
| Oak Park Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.6 | 6–8 | 3.8 mi | 395 | Compare → |
| Bishop Noland Episcopal Day SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.1private | PK–10 | 4.3 mi | 305 | Compare → |
| S. P. Arnett Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | 6–8 | 4.6 mi | 378 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Calcasieu Parish
- Schools in district
- 56
- Rank in district
- #7 of 55
- District spending per student
- $17,724NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
S. J. Welsh Middle School is listed in Calcasieu Parish; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About S. J. Welsh Middle School
S. J. Welsh Middle School is a public middle school in Lake Charles, LA, part of Calcasieu Parish, serving approximately 1,031 students in grades 6th-8th with a 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio.
It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #59 of 1,288 schools in LA. State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,031
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 93
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Calcasieu Parish
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 15.0%
- Phone
- (337) 217-4410
- Area population (ZIP 70605)
- 40,715
- Area average commute
- 18.3 min
- Area median age
- 35
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 LEAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 LEAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 LEAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 LEAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 70605; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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