- Enrollment
- 1,911
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lake Charles, LA
S. J. Welsh Middle School
Federal NCES profile for S. J. Welsh Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 220033000276
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
S. J. Welsh Middle School earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Louisiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Louisiana schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Lake Charles · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Louisiana
- 43.6%
- free-lunch eligible
S. J. Welsh Middle School has class sizes smaller than 79% of Louisiana schools. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, S. J. Welsh Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Lake Charles, LA.
School address
District: Calcasieu Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220033000276 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-76 students YoY
S. J. Welsh Middle School shrank from 1,107 students in 2022-23 to 1,031 in 2023-24 (-6.9%).
Teacher FTE added 76.9 → 93.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-76 students YoY 220033000276 · Lake Charles, LA Middle · MID · TRAD
1,011 enr · 13.3:1 · 43.6% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Sulphur High School (1,911 students)
S. J. Welsh Middle School shrank from 1,107 students in 2022-23 to 1,031 in 2023-24 (-6.9%). Teacher FTE added 76.9 → 93.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Louisiana schools → · Find another →
S. J. Welsh Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sulphur High S
Sulphur High School
1,911 students
- Alfred M. Barb
Alfred M. Barbe High School
1,908 students
- Sam Houston Hi
Sam Houston High School
1,141 students
- This school
S. J. Welsh Middle School
1,011 students
- Iowa High Scho
Iowa High School
1,007 students
- Moss Bluff Ele
Moss Bluff Elementary School
969 students
What this shows S. J. Welsh Middle School reports 1,011 students on the CCD universe file.
How S. J. Welsh Middle School compares
S. J. Welsh Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 21% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.6% | ▼ 30% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,011 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,011
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 21% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
7.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$17,724
per pupil, district-wide
- above Louisiana avg of $16,812
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 337 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
222
in-school suspensions + 150 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 36.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 12 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 50.5%
African American 30.4%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
Asian 7.0%
Two or More 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 50.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.1, S. J. Welsh Middle School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Calcasieu Parish reports $17,724 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How S. J. Welsh Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphur High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alfred M. Barbe High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sam Houston High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Iowa High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Moss Bluff Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to S. J. Welsh Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,908
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,141
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,007
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 969
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools in Lake Charles
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Moss Bluff Middle School
Standard public school
781 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
F. K. White Middle School
Standard public school
614 students 14:1 students per teacher
Oak Park Middle School
Standard public school
388 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet School
Standard public school
265 students 11:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,011 students)
Frequently asked questions about S. J. Welsh Middle School
How many students attend S. J. Welsh Middle School?
S. J. Welsh Middle School has 1,011 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lake Charles, LA. CCD year-over-year: 1,107 (2022-23) → 1,031 (2023-24), down 76.
What is the student-teacher ratio at S. J. Welsh Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at S. J. Welsh Middle School is 13.3:1, which is 21% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at S. J. Welsh Middle School?
43.6% of students at S. J. Welsh Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of S. J. Welsh Middle School?
The largest demographic group at S. J. Welsh Middle School is White at 50.5% of enrollment, in Lake Charles, LA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for S. J. Welsh Middle School?
S. J. Welsh Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does S. J. Welsh Middle School rank among middle schools in Lake Charles?
By Resource Investment Index, S. J. Welsh Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Lake Charles, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Lake Charles on the city page.
What other schools are in Calcasieu Parish?
Besides S. J. Welsh Middle School, Calcasieu Parish also operates Sulphur High School (1,911 students), Alfred M. Barbe High School (1,908 students), and Sam Houston High School (1,141 students). See the Calcasieu Parish district page for the complete list.