2024 Best Schools in the Lafayette Area

• Lafayette, LA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  93 reviews

Parent: We have children at both the Lower and Upper campuses. At the risk of sounding fanatical, I have to say that I cannot imagine my children not having the "ESA Experience." It has shaped them in wholly positive ways to the extent that in considering how our children are evolving as individuals, I consider the impact of not only "nature plus nurture" but specifically the nurturing received at ESA and how it has played a significant role in shaping my children to be confident, avid learners and well-rounded, open-hearted citizens of the world. I feel the teachers truly "see" my children for who they are as unique and uniquely capable individuals and it has been a comfort to me year after year to know I have entrusted their development to such amazing, highly qualified, and kind teachers. While diversity is admittedly not a visible attribute in looking at the student makeup, a genuine appreciation for diversity is part of the culture and teachings at this school.... Read 93 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 522

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Grand Coteau, LA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Senior: I have attended Berchmans Academy for 4 years, and I love it. The student enrollment is very small, and to most that may seem like a terrible thing, but actually it is the exact opposite. The low enrollment number allows for the students to have very close friendships with each other. With Berchmans being a low enrolled K-12 school, upperclassman know the lowerclassman and even the young kids on a first-name personal basis. Due to the low enrollment numbers, the students are given more one on one time with teachers. The teachers and all of the other staff are all awesome. The teachers are passionate about what they teach, which makes a huge difference in the learning environment. There are always new advancements coming into the school, whether it is a new lunch service or as simple as a new club. One major takeaway when I look back at my time at Berchmans, was that I was always respected by everyone, whether that be faculty to students. This school will always stay with me in life.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 150

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Lafayette, LA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  57 reviews

Senior: I have been a student at Ascension since Pre-k 3 and I can say that until recently I have loved all parts of my school. Recently there has been some issues with teachers about how they teach and how when I struggle I am forced to hire a tutor instead of being directly helped by the teacher. But, overall that is the only bad thing I can say about Ascension. I have made so many lifelong friends and have a good time everyday at school. Although I struggle with some teachers there are also others that I absolutely love and can’t wait to go to their class everyday. I just think that the way teachers act about students when they are struggling needs to change (not all teachers are bad when it comes to this issue only a few). With that change I would absolutely recommend attending Ascension especially if you excel in small classes where your teachers can really help you!... Read 57 reviews

• grade A

• Students 709

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Grand Coteau, LA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.59 out of 5  17 reviews

Parent: I graduated from Sacred Heart and now my daughters are attending as well. I am happy to say that the same traditions and values that were at the heart of this school, remain the same today. We came from several years at another private school in the area, and as much as I adore our previous school, there is nothing comparable to a Sacred Heart education! My daughter’s have both flourished at the Academy, just like I knew they would. The individualized attention these girls get is second to none. Plus the small class sizes allow for so much more freedom, from group work on the floor to classes outside because it’s a beautiful day! The best way that I can explain the Schools of the Sacred Heart is, it’s not just a school, it’s a second home for these girls!... Read 17 reviews

• grade A

• Students 220

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  75 reviews

Sophomore: This school is great, but extremely stressful. Given the curriculum, it is obvious that high level classes are given. But sometimes, it can get overwhelming. Although I’ve only been here for one year, I almost transferred. I’m glad I didn’t though. The community here is amazing (for the most part). Everyone is very friendly and you can make friends in no time. The events here are really enjoyable. I made a lot of memories at Cupcake bingo, Spirit week, and Prom. Something large to note is that there are barely any competitive clubs. We have Beta, but that’s practically the only one. There’s no sports clubs here, which is due to them focusing mainly on education. The clubs available are fun though! Student news is an example of one. Tapping back into academics, the students here take education seriously. You end up learning a bunch of actually useful information, and learn a lot every week. Although this caused frequent test, I’d rather this than learn nothing.... Read 75 reviews

• grade A

• Students 263

• Student-teacher ratio 33:1

• Vermilion Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 818

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Vermilion Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 229

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Youngsville, LA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.86 out of 5  7 reviews

Senior: I have been there for eight years. I have had the opportunity to leave when I switched from middle school to high school but I stayed and I’m glad I did. The best part of my school is the teachers, and how dedicated they are to each and every single one of their students. One of the worst part is all of the guidelines, but it does play into the safety factor. Which is yet another positive which makes me feel even better about my school. I would love to see the school continue to grow and thrive. This, allowing for every one of the future students to have an even better education, and strive to be their very best person they can be.... Read 7 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,656

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Lafayette, LA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  161 reviews

Parent: STM has provided a Christ-centered education and we are so pleased with the experience that our family has had so far. The opportunities for involvement are immense and there are organizations that are sure to appeal to every type of student. The student body is one of service and dedication to the mission of the school. The faculty and staff set that example and the positive influence is evident in the students. I would love to see a change in some long-term faculty that continue to teach in a way that may not be conducive to every student's learning-type. For example, rote memorization is difficult for many and evaluations based on that alone may have a negative impact on not only the student's grade but their self-esteem as well.... Read 161 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 957

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Vermilion Parish Public Schools, LA•

• 6-8

• grade A minus

• Students 490

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Vermilion Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 219

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Vermilion Parish Public Schools, LA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Alum: I personally attended North Vermillion middle school and it was a great school. Very clean and efficient school system. Just like every other school there are issues but overall the school was a great one.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 647

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Vermilion Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-2

• grade A minus

• Students 447

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Vermilion Parish Public Schools, LA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  44 reviews

Senior: The community and schooling was great. Events like homecoming are really big and make for fun additions to an overwise boring task of attending school. The courses are mostly well taught and the classwork was never overwhelming. The buildings however are old. The "temporary" building put in after a hurricane in 2005 are still there, some of which do not have portions of the wall or ceiling paneling. People have even fallen through the floor. It is the only real downside to the school.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 537

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 760

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 687

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• New Iberia, LA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: I have a child that is an ACS alumni as well has a currently enrolled high school student. As an ASC graduate, my daughter was well prepared to meet the rigors of college and recently graduated with honors from a state university. The school focuses on both academic & spiritual development. The small student-teacher ratio helps to maximize student growth. The facilities are clean & well maintained. ACS definitely has a wonderful & safe family environment!... Read 9 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 193

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  496 reviews

Alum: Lafayette High School was a great place to experience people from all different walks of life. I had friends there from every race, religion, and background you could think of. I am so happy I attended Lafayette High, as I think it was a small taste of the real world. I was in the gifted and talented program there, and it was my favorite thing about attending. I was constantly challenged academically and the teachers were phenomenal. On the other hand, the administration put very little effort into the athletic programs, and many great student athletes who wanted to pursue collegiate athletics suffered because of it. Nevertheless, Lafayette High School was a great place to attend!... Read 496 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,823

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 804

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: We have had a great experience at EAM. My daughter has thrived there! My son starts in August and looking forward to it! The teachers have been is great over the past 3 years. The guidelines placed on the school through LPSS often seems to cause the most issues. The administration really seems to care for the kids and is always grateful for any parental support that is given.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 495

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  49 reviews

Senior: The best part of my highschool experience was just that, the experience. There was a diverse set of extraordinary talents and people attending Southside High that would forever be in my memory. We also have so much school pep such as frequent pep rallies and can be known to pack the stands for sports season, cheering on our fellow peers! The worst part of my high school experience was the personal hardships I have gone through with packing my schedule. From a multitude of assignments and exams, to getting a job, being a part of the band, and putting myself out there socially - this was all hard to balance in life. However, I learned how to balance all of these things for my Junior and senior year. As a senior, I can say that for the most part I am proud of my high school staff, experience, and academics! The school has also been supportive of each individual student no matter if they plan to go to college or not! There is tons of preparation for each students future!... Read 49 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,850

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: Quaint,old fashioned school. My kids love it! They have an excellent teacher to student ratio and caring and engaging teachers. The teachers and administration put a lot of effort into academics so the children learn and thrive.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 351

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• 5-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Niche User: It's a really good school with lots of friendly people! I would love to send my children to school here, ok Karen, I made a nice review about this place now please give me the kids back.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 1,114

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Lafayette Parish Public Schools, LA•

• PK, K-4

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Freshman: Woodvale is a very hand down the best public elementary school in the Lafayette Parish school system.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 687

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Lafayette, LA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  17 reviews

Senior: I have been a student at John Paul the Great Academy for the past 14 years. My family has been a part of the school since it first opened. John Paul has been a second home to me growing up, but I can attest that the school is not perfect. The Catholic classical culture is one of a kind, but the academics are very rigorous and different than most schools in my area. I often feel ostracized by peers in my area whom attend different schools because of the reputation that John Paul has for being radical. Although this feeling of being left out can be upsetting, I wouldn’t rather be at any other school. I have been able to cultivate real, genuine friendships with my class as well as teachers. Something that sets John Paul the Great Academy apart from the other schools in my area is the house system, consisting of four different sects of the high school students. I know that school can be difficult for some, but I believe John Paul has provided me with an amazing education, and true friends.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 271

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1