Enrollment
457
Louisiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Thibodaux, LA
W.S. Lafargue Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for W.S. Lafargue Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 220090000709
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W.S. Lafargue Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Louisiana schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Thibodaux · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.3:1
- large classes for Louisiana
- 72.1%
- free-lunch eligible
W.S. Lafargue Elementary School has class sizes larger than 72% of Louisiana schools. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W.S. Lafargue Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Thibodaux, LA.
School address
District: Lafourche Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220090000709 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.3:1
vs 16.8:1 Louisiana avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.1%
vs 62.5% Louisiana avg
+15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How W.S. Lafargue Elementary School compares with Louisiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at W.S. Lafargue Elementary School
W.S. Lafargue Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Thibodaux, Louisiana, enrolling 457 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Louisiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 72.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 457 students, its enrollment sits close to the Louisiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,330 scored Louisiana schools.
Against 380 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #258.
Its student body is led by African American (61%) and White (27%) (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 914 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
16.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 28.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 122 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 457 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Thibodaux's elementary schools, it stands alongside C.M. Washington Elementary School (392 students): W.S. Lafargue Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.3:1 vs 17:1).
Lafourche Parish also operates Central Lafourche High School (1,307 students) and Thibodaux High School (1,306 students) alongside W.S. Lafargue Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How W.S. Lafargue Elementary School compares
W.S. Lafargue Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.3:1 | ▲ 9% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.1% | ▲ 15% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 457 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
457
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% above the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 72% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,029
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,376
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
70
in-school suspensions + 52 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 61.3%
White 26.5%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
Two or More 4.4%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 61.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.7, W.S. Lafargue Elementary School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lafourche Parish, which includes W.S. Lafargue Elementary School.
$15,029
Per student
-8%
vs Louisiana
Avg $16,376
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 41.7%
State 30.2%
Federal 28.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How W.S. Lafargue Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Lafourche High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thibodaux High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Lafourche High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Thibodaux Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thibodaux Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W.S. Lafargue Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,307
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,306
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 990
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 592
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 575
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar elementary schools in Thibodaux
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Louisiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~457 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on W.S. Lafargue Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare W.S. Lafargue Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Lafourche Parish's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about W.S. Lafargue Elementary School
How many students attend W.S. Lafargue Elementary School?
W.S. Lafargue Elementary School has 457 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Thibodaux, LA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at W.S. Lafargue Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at W.S. Lafargue Elementary School is 18.3:1, which is 9% higher than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W.S. Lafargue Elementary School?
72.1% of students at W.S. Lafargue Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W.S. Lafargue Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at W.S. Lafargue Elementary School is African American at 61.3% of enrollment, in Thibodaux, LA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W.S. Lafargue Elementary School?
W.S. Lafargue Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does W.S. Lafargue Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Thibodaux?
By Resource Investment Index, W.S. Lafargue Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Thibodaux, 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 Thibodaux on the city page.
Is W.S. Lafargue Elementary School a good school?
W.S. Lafargue Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Louisiana schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Lafourche Parish?
Besides W.S. Lafargue Elementary School, Lafourche Parish also operates Central Lafourche High School (1,307 students), Thibodaux High School (1,306 students), and South Lafourche High School (990 students). See the Lafourche Parish district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.