Willow Charter Academy

Willow Charter Academy, a reasonably sized elementary school in Lafayette, Louisiana, part of Willow Charter Academy, serves 605 students, covering grades K through 8. Enrollment runs roughly 34% larger than the state mean of about 453.

Operationally, Willow Charter Academy answers to Willow Charter Academy, which sets policy, hires staff, and reports enrollment to the state.

Looking at the student body, Willow Charter Academy reports that nearly all students (91%) are Black. Beyond that, the school reports 4% White, 3% Hispanic. By comparison, Lafayette Parish as a whole is about 25% Black, so the school skews meaningfully more Black than its surroundings.

On the resource side, Willow Charter Academy lists 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 34.4:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 14.0:1, putting Willow Charter Academy higher than the state norm the norm. About 98% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Lafayette Parish (around 59%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

In the surrounding community, Lafayette Parish reports that median household earnings sit near $67,451, 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 13%. Willow Charter Academy is one of 50 public schools in Lafayette Parish (combined enrollment of about 35,903 students).

The closest other public school is Alice N. Boucher Elementary School, roughly 0.5 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Willow Charter Academy.

The school occupies an urban site. Willow Charter Academy is a charter school, which puts it inside the public-school system but outside the standard district-managed model.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Willow Charter Academy has grew 23%, going from 491 students in 2018 to 605 in 2025. Over the same period, the Black share contracted from 95% to 91%. The student-to-teacher ratio rose from 16.9:1 in 2018 to 34.4:1 today.

On the community side, recent activity here tends to focus on science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.