Southeastern Laboratory School to add high school grades

Beginning in the fall of 2027, the Southeastern Louisiana University Laboratory School will expand by adding one grade each year for the next four years through 12th grade. A distinctive partnership between the Tangipahoa Parish School System and Southeastern’s College of Education, the Lab School is fully accredited by the Louisiana Department of Education and COGNIA.

“The expansion of the Southeastern Laboratory School is a strategic investment in the future of our university, our public schools, and the communities we serve,” said Southeastern President William S. Wainwright. “By making the Lab School a complete K-12 laboratory school, we are strengthening our teacher preparation programs, creating new opportunities for innovative research and clinical practice, and providing students with an exceptional educational experience. This partnership with the Tangipahoa Parish School System enhances the pipeline of highly qualified educators, supports workforce development, and contributes to the long-term economic vitality of our region through a stronger, more competitive education system.”

Founded in 1940 as the “Training School,” the Lab School has a long-standing history of advancing educational practice and supporting the intellectual, social, and physical development of students, said College of Education Dean Paula Summers Calderon. Although the high school component closed in 1969, the school’s mission and capacity for comprehensive K-12 education remain strong.

“Restoring grades 9-12 would return the Lab School to the full scope of its original mission, while helping address critical educational and workforce needs in the region,” said Calderon. “Expansion would increase enrollment, broaden access to high-quality secondary education, create new employment opportunities, and significantly enhance teacher preparation. The addition of a high school would provide Southeastern Louisiana University students with expanded opportunities for student teaching, mentorship, and applied instructional practice in a laboratory setting.”

Currently, the Southeastern Lab School serves approximately 260 students in grades Pre-K through 8 within a small, one-class-per-grade structure that fosters individualized instruction and academic rigor. It serves as a model of instructional excellence, innovation, and teacher preparation, said Lab School Director Stephen Labbe.

“Lab School students receive a well-rounded education that includes core academic disciplines, enrichment in art, music, and physical education, participation in gifted and talented programs, and access to a broad range of extracurricular and experiential learning opportunities,” he said. “Student achievement consistently exceeds state and national benchmarks, and graduates are well-prepared for continued academic success.”

For more information about the Lab School, email [email protected] or visit https://www.southeastern.edu/college-of-education-health-and-human-sciences/labschool/.