Admissions Information
One tenet of the Southeastern Louisiana University Laboratory School’s philosophy is that learning takes place best in an organized, comprehensive curriculum. A major goal of the school is to provide each student the opportunity to learn, to develop personally, and to experience success.
Our school is accredited by the Louisiana State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. We are housed in the Cate Teacher Education Center. Our school offers a science lab, specifically designed music and art facilities, media centers, and a computer lab.
We offer education to students in grades K-8. Students at the Laboratory School consistently score above the state and national averages. All teachers at the Laboratory School have a minimum of a Master’s Degree and children are often taught on a 1 to 3 ratio utilizing college student/intern teachers.
The Laboratory School is made up of one class for each grade level, K-8. Each grade and/or learning community has a quota of students that is maintained. Kindergarten has a maximum of 22 students, while grades 1, 2, and 3, have a maximum of 25 students per grade and grades 4 through 8 have a maximum of 26. As vacancies occur, the director selects students from the applicant pool to fill the vacancies. The applicant pool is composed of applications submitted by parents for their children. No child is accepted unless an application is on file. A child’s application will remain on file for two years unless notified by the parent to remove the application. Please notify the school if your address or telephone number changes after you have submitted an application. All applications for kindergarten students must be on file by January 31 of each year for consideration for the upcoming school year. A kindergarten round-up is held in March each year after the selections have been made.
The selection for admission of students is accomplished very objectively in accordance with three approved guidelines. The guidelines are as follows:
1. Brothers and sisters of children who are currently attending the Laboratory School (who have applications on file) are considered first. Sibling status refers to children with the same natural mother or father. If there are two siblings to be considered for a single vacancy, the one living closest -- driveway to driveway by the nearest driving route – is accepted. The same guideline is applied for minorities. If there are no siblings to be considered and the total school population is in proper balance, the child living the closest is selected.
2. The school is to maintain a student population that is representative of the community; that is, a 30% to 35% minority population within the total population of the school. Minorities include Black, Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian.
3. A third guideline that must be applied is distance from the school to the legal residence of the child. The residence of the child is where the legal parent or guardian resides. The primary residence is the home for which homestead exemption is received. If the parents are divorced or separated, the residence of the domiciliary parent (or the parent with sole custody) will be considered as the legal residence of the child/children.
** The child(ren) must physically live at the address on the application both on the date the application is submitted to the Laboratory School and on the date of acceptance to the Laboratory School. **
Fee Structure
Registration Fee----------------------------------------------------$100.00 (non-refundable)
Material Fees--------------------------------------------------------$ 50.00 (non-refundable)
Above fees are due upon acceptance
Tuition-----------------------------------------------------------------$1,215.00
Late Fee-------------------------------------------------------------- $ 25.00
Payment Dates
Registration and Material Fees---------------------------------May 1
First Semester Tuition--------------------------------------------August 1st
Second Semester Tuition----------------------------------------January - Friday of first week back from Christmas break
You may elect to pay the tuition in one lump payment in August, or in two payments, as listed above. A late fee of $25.00 will be assessed for any late payment of registration and/or tuition. Payment for registration and tuition fees are to be paid in the Controller’s Office. Late fee payments and material fees are to be paid in the Southeastern Lab School Office. Payments received two weeks past due date could result in your child(ren) losing placement in the Laboratory School. Failure to make payments could result in your child(ren) being dismissed from school.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at any time. We are open from 7:30 a.m - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, with the exception of holidays noted on our school calendar, during the school year. Thank you for your interest in the Southeastern Louisiana Laboratory School.