High Schools in Lincoln Parish

Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, is home to two high schools—Ruston High School and Choudrant High School—serving grades 9-12 and 6-12 respectively, offering a clear contrast in size and academic performance for families in the area.

Choudrant High School stands out as the top performer in the parish, ranking 11th out of 325 high schools statewide and earning a 5-star rating. With just 421 students, this small 6-12 school achieves exceptional results: 90% proficiency in math, 92% in English, and a perfect 0% dropout rate. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 11.7% is well below the state average of 22.5%, and its free/reduced lunch rate of 44.66% is nearly identical to Ruston High School’s 44.8%, showing that socioeconomic factors do not drive its success. In contrast, Ruston High School, with 1,212 students, is a solid, above-average school ranking in the 67th percentile. It boasts a strong 93.9% graduation rate and outperforms state averages in core subjects, though its overall math (66%) and English (71%) proficiency rates lag behind Choudrant’s. Ruston does show competitive strength in specific End-of-Course exams like Geometry and English I, where its scores are closer to Choudrant’s.

Key takeaways for parents include the clear advantage of Choudrant’s smaller, vertically-aligned 6-12 model, which builds strong foundations early and leads to elite performance. Ruston, while not as top-ranked, remains a reliable choice with strong graduation rates and effective instruction in key high school subjects. Both schools serve similar socioeconomic populations, highlighting that school-specific factors like culture and teaching quality drive outcomes. Chronic absenteeism is a notable differentiator, with Choudrant’s lower rate likely contributing to its academic edge. Overall, Lincoln Parish offers two distinct options: a small, high-performing school and a larger, consistently above-average institution.