- Enrollment
- 1,911
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lake Charles, LA
T. H. Watkins Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for T. H. Watkins Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 220033000273
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 67
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
T. H. Watkins Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Louisiana schools.
- #3 of 4
- elementary schools in Lake Charles · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.8:1
- small classes for Louisiana
- 85.9%
- free-lunch eligible
T. H. Watkins Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 88% of Louisiana schools. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, T. H. Watkins Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Lake Charles, LA.
School address
District: Calcasieu Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220033000273 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
T. H. Watkins Elementary School shrank from 199 students in 2022-23 to 186 in 2023-24 (-6.5%).
Teacher FTE added 14.6 → 16.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-13 students YoY 220033000273 · Lake Charles, LA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
165 enr · 11.8:1 · 85.9% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Sulphur High School (1,911 students)
T. H. Watkins Elementary School shrank from 199 students in 2022-23 to 186 in 2023-24 (-6.5%). Teacher FTE added 14.6 → 16.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Louisiana schools → · Find another →
T. H. Watkins Elementary 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
- S. J. Welsh Mi
S. J. Welsh Middle School
1,011 students
- Iowa High Scho
Iowa High School
1,007 students
- This school 165
T. H. Watkins Elementary School
165 students
What this shows T. H. Watkins Elementary School reports 165 students on the CCD universe file.
How T. H. Watkins Elementary School compares
T. H. Watkins Elementary 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 | 11.8:1 | ▼ 30% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.9% | ▲ 37% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 165 | top 92% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
165
Bigger than 16% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
85.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% above the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 30% below state mean
Top 12% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 165 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 89.1%
Two or More 4.2%
White 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.0%
Largest group: African American at 89.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.2, T. H. Watkins Elementary School is less mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
District finance for Calcasieu Parish reports $17,724 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How T. H. Watkins Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphur High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alfred M. Barbe High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sam Houston High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| S. J. Welsh Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Iowa High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to T. H. Watkins Elementary 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
- 1,011
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 1,007
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Lake Charles
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~165 students)
Frequently asked questions about T. H. Watkins Elementary School
How many students attend T. H. Watkins Elementary School?
T. H. Watkins Elementary School has 165 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lake Charles, LA. CCD year-over-year: 199 (2022-23) → 186 (2023-24), down 13.
What is the student-teacher ratio at T. H. Watkins Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at T. H. Watkins Elementary School is 11.8:1, which is 30% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 25% 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 T. H. Watkins Elementary School?
85.9% of students at T. H. Watkins Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of T. H. Watkins Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at T. H. Watkins Elementary School is African American at 89.1% of enrollment, in Lake Charles, LA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for T. H. Watkins Elementary School?
T. H. Watkins Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical 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 T. H. Watkins Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Lake Charles?
By Resource Investment Index, T. H. Watkins Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 elementary 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 elementary schools in Lake Charles on the city page.
What other schools are in Calcasieu Parish?
Besides T. H. Watkins Elementary 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.