David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy

1,362 Students

High School 6th - 12th

School Overview

David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy (DTSMA), located in Lafayette, Louisiana, is a specialized public magnet school that serves students in grades 6 through 12. As a STEM-focused institution, the academy places a heavy emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, integrating these disciplines into a rigorous academic curriculum. The school is designed to prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce by fostering critical thinking, innovation, and technical proficiency through hands-on learning experiences and project-based instruction.

Beyond its core STEM foundation, the academy offers a comprehensive educational environment that balances technical training with traditional academics and extracurricular opportunities. By providing advanced coursework and technology-driven tools, David Thibodaux aims to equip its students with the skills necessary to succeed in higher education and competitive technical career paths. The school maintains a distinct mission of cultivating a culture of academic excellence, attracting students who are eager to engage with complex challenges in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.

1,362

Total Students

64.5

Full-Time Teachers

21.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

39.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	697
Hispanic	67
Black	502
Asian	43
Two or More	49
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	3

White
697 (51.2%)
Black
502 (36.9%)
Hispanic
67 (4.9%)
Two or More
49 (3.6%)
Asian
43 (3.2%)
Pacific Islander
3 (0.2%)
American Indian
1 (0.1%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Career and Technical School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Lafayette Parish
Phone:	(337)262-5962
Grade Range:	6th - 12th
Total Students:	1,362
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	64.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	21.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	445
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	94

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 215

Grade 7 214

Grade 8 213

Grade 9 201

Grade 10 188

Grade 11 163

Grade 12 168