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Very Good

#298 of 1,288 schools in LA

Top 23% in state

T. H. Watkins Elementary School

Elementary School · Calcasieu Parish

2501 Seventh Avenue, Lake Charles, LA 70601

Enrollment

186

Student-Teacher

11.6:1

Score

7.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Louisiana schools

#298 of 1,288

In Lake Charles

#13 of 34

public schools

In district

#22 of 55

Calcasieu Parish

School environment

8.5 / 10

Excellent

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T. H. Watkins Elementary School

7.6/10

Elementary School in Lake Charles · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Oak Park Middle School

8.6/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Oak Park Elementary School

5.3/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About T. H. Watkins Elementary School

T. H. Watkins Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lake Charles, LA, part of Calcasieu Parish.

T. H. Watkins Elementary School serves approximately 186 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio.

T. H. Watkins Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #298 of 1,288 schools in LA.

Structured state assessment records for T. H. Watkins Elementary School show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 7.6 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.0
  • LA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 186 students, T. H. Watkins Elementary School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

32% of students at T. H. Watkins Elementary School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.89 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.5Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25% (2025 LEAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency35% (2025 LEAP)
Math vs. State Avg-11 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-7.9 pts
Overall Proficiency30% (2025 LEAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)24% (model expectation from 2025 LEAP)
vs. Expected+5.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile49th
Resources & Environment8.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,724
Chronic Absenteeism31.7%

T. H. Watkins Elementary School — Students at T. H. Watkins Elementary School score 30% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

88.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores LA LEAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 48.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
35.9% (2025 LEAP)
ELA Proficiency 50.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (2025 LEAP)

Based on 40 test records from LA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2010
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2014
Math
62%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2025
Math
25%
ELA
35%

* 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: 7.9/10.

How T. H. Watkins Elementary School Compares

See how T. H. Watkins Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.6/10
77th percentile in LA
Academic
6.5/10
Average
Growth
7.9/10
Very Good
Environment
8.5/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
89%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
16 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
31.7%

Location

2501 Seventh Avenue, Lake Charles, LA 70601

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering T. H. Watkins Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School (rated 9.1/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is John J. Johnson II Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, ST MARGARET CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Lake Charles, see our Lake Charles schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Oak Park Middle School Lake Charles 0.4 mi 8.6
Oak Park Elementary School Lake Charles 0.5 mi 5.3
ST MARGARET CATHOLIC SCHOOL Lake Charles 1.2 mi 8.1
Lake Charles College Prep Lake Charles 1.4 mi 4.0
Pearl Watson Elementary School Lake Charles 1.4 mi 5.5
Fairview Elementary School Lake Charles 1.6 mi 3.9
Lake Charles Charter Academy Lake Charles 1.7 mi 5.8
Brentwood Elementary School Lake Charles 1.6 mi 7.0
John J. Johnson II Elementary School Lake Charles 1.7 mi 8.4
LaGrange High School Lake Charles 1.6 mi 5.6
ST LOUIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Lake Charles 1.6 mi 5.6
Henry Heights Elementary School Lake Charles 1.7 mi 5.2
T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School Lake Charles 1.7 mi 9.1
BISHOP NOLAND EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Lake Charles 2.2 mi 8.1
Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy Lake Charles 2.3 mi 4.0
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Lake Charles 2.2 mi 5.7
Ralph F. Wilson Elementary School Lake Charles 2.5 mi 4.7
F. K. White Middle School Lake Charles 2.6 mi 9.2
Barbe Elementary School Lake Charles 2.5 mi 5.4
College Oaks Elementary School Lake Charles 2.6 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 70601 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$49,545

Median Home Value

$164,300

Median Rent

$938/mo

Population

31,843

College Educated

24.9%

Homeownership

60.4%

Poverty Rate

27.4%

Median Age

38.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
ASCENSION OF OUR LORD CATHOLIC SCHOOL La Place, LA 7.6
Alma Redwine Elementary Alexandria, LA 7.6
ST JOAN OF ARC CATHOLIC SCHOOL La Place, LA 7.5
ST MARKS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Shreveport, LA 7.5
Clinton Elementary School Clinton, LA 7.4
Golden Meadow Upper Elementary School Golden Meadow, LA 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about T. H. Watkins Elementary School

What grades does T. H. Watkins Elementary School serve?

T. H. Watkins Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend T. H. Watkins Elementary School?

T. H. Watkins Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 186 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at T. H. Watkins Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at T. H. Watkins Elementary School is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does T. H. Watkins Elementary School rank in LA?

T. H. Watkins Elementary School ranks #298 of 1,288 schools in LA.

What is T. H. Watkins Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

T. H. Watkins Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 T. H. Watkins Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, T. H. Watkins Elementary School has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is T. H. Watkins Elementary School a charter school?

No, T. H. Watkins Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is T. H. Watkins Elementary School a Title I school?

No, T. H. Watkins Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for T. H. Watkins Elementary School?

88.7% of students at T. H. Watkins 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
45 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
47 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
186
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
16
Free/Reduced Lunch
88.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Calcasieu Parish
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.7%

District

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

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