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Very Good

#284 of 1,288 schools in LA

Top 22% in state

Ruston High School

High School · Lincoln Parish

900 Bearcat Drive, Ruston, LA 71270

Enrollment

1,277

Student-Teacher

12.9:1

Score

7.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Louisiana schools

#284 of 1,288

In Ruston

#6 of 9

public schools

In district

#8 of 12

Lincoln Parish

Academic growth

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Ruston High School

7.7/10

High School in Ruston · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Montessori School of Ruston

Nearby

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

A. E. Phillips Laboratory School

7.2/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Ruston High School

Ruston High School is a public high school in Ruston, LA, part of Lincoln Parish. Ruston High School serves approximately 1,277 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Ruston High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #284 of 1,288 schools in LA.

Structured state assessment records for Ruston High School show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.7 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.9
  • LA avg 6.0

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.9Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.44 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.2Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency31% (2025 LEAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency58% (2025 LEAP)
Math vs. State Avg-5.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.6 pts
Overall Proficiency45% (2025 LEAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2025 LEAP)
vs. Expected-11.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile46th
College Readiness7.3Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate99%+
AP Participation23%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,353
Chronic Absenteeism16.1%

Ruston High School — Students at Ruston High School score 44% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

46.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores LA LEAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 65.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
36.1% (2025 LEAP)
ELA Proficiency 73.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.4% (2025 LEAP)

Based on 32 test records from LA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
73%
ELA
69%
2010
Math
73%
ELA
71%
2011
Math
83%
ELA
95%
2012
Math
56%
ELA
76%
2013
Math
59%
ELA
76%
2014
Math
69%
ELA
78%
2015
Math
75%
ELA
80%
2016
Math
71%
ELA
78%
2017
Math
85%
ELA
73%
2018
Math
79%
ELA
89%
2019
Math
79%
ELA
89%
2020*
Math
53%
ELA
60%
2021*
Math
53%
ELA
60%
2022
Math
48%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
31%
ELA
58%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.9/10.

How Ruston High School Compares

See how Ruston High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
78th percentile in LA
Academic
6.2/10
Average
Growth
8.9/10
Excellent
Environment
8.7/10
Excellent
AP Courses
2
State avg: 2.1
Sports
22
11 boys' · 11 girls'
Advanced STEM
4/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
46%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
99 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.1%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2 AP courses offered
23% participation·State avg: 2.1 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics22sports offered
11 boys'·11 girls'·39 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses4 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

900 Bearcat Drive, Ruston, LA 71270

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ruston High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Choudrant High School (rated 8.2/10, 7.7 miles away, in nearby Choudrant), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Arcadia High School (rated 6.1/10, 15.1 miles away, in nearby Arcadia), a more accessible option. For more schools in Ruston, see our Ruston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 15.4 mi
School Distance Rating
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF RUSTON Ruston 0.5 mi
A. E. Phillips Laboratory School Ruston 0.6 mi 7.2
Glen View Elementary School Ruston 1.2 mi 9.3
I.A. Lewis School Ruston 1.4 mi 5.7
Howard School Ruston 1.4 mi 3.7
Cypress Springs Elementary School Ruston 1.5 mi 8.0
Hillcrest Elementary School Ruston 1.6 mi 9.6
Ruston Junior High School Ruston 1.6 mi 8.2
Ruston Elementary School Ruston 1.6 mi 8.3
CEDAR CREEK SCHOOL Ruston 2.2 mi 6.9
BETHEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ruston 2.6 mi 6.5
Lincoln Preparatory School Grambling 2.5 mi 2.3
Choudrant High School Choudrant 7.7 mi 8.2
Simsboro High School Simsboro 8.0 mi 8.2
Choudrant Elementary School Choudrant 8.8 mi 7.1
Dubach School Dubach 11.1 mi 7.3
Quitman High School Quitman 13.7 mi 7.6
Downsville Community Charter School Downsville 15.1 mi 6.2
Arcadia High School Arcadia 15.1 mi 6.1
Crawford Elementary School Arcadia 15.4 mi 8.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 71270 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$37,599

Median Home Value

$218,600

Median Rent

$819/mo

Population

32,747

College Educated

39.9%

Homeownership

49.6%

Avg Commute

16.9 min

Poverty Rate

32.7%

Median Age

28.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Destrehan High School Destrehan, LA 7.7
Liberty High School Baton Rouge, LA 7.7
Belle Chasse High School Belle Chasse, LA 7.8
Natchitoches Central High School Natchitoches, LA 7.8
Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy Avondale, LA 7.8
North Vermilion High School Maurice, LA 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ruston High School

What grades does Ruston High School serve?

Ruston High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Ruston High School?

Ruston High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,277 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ruston High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Ruston High School is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ruston High School rank in LA?

Ruston High School ranks #284 of 1,288 schools in LA.

What is Ruston High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Ruston High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ruston High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Ruston High School has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Ruston High School a charter school?

No, Ruston High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Ruston High School a Title I school?

No, Ruston High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ruston High School?

46.4% of students at Ruston High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
44 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,277
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
99
Free/Reduced Lunch
46.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Lincoln Parish
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.1%
4-Year Graduation
99%+

District

Lincoln Parish
District Enrollment
5,803
Schools in District
12
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,353
District Rank
#8 of 12

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