Summary:
The 71270 zip code in Ruston, LA, is served by eight schools spanning Kindergarten through 12th grade, all part of the Lincoln Parish district except for the alternative Howard School, which operates under its own district.
Ruston High School stands out as the academic anchor, earning a 4-star rating with a 93.9% graduation rate and consistently outperforming state averages in all core subjects. In contrast, Ruston Elementary School shows the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 40th to the 52nd percentile in state rank and excelling in math (74% proficient) despite a 62.95% poverty rate. The "middle school slide" is evident at Ruston Junior High School, where 8th-grade math proficiency drops to 58% from 72% in 7th grade, while I.A. Lewis School (6th grade only) posts strong scores of 70% in math and 75% in ELA. Cypress Springs Elementary School struggles, particularly in social studies (46%) and 3rd-grade math (46%).
Chronic absenteeism is a hidden crisis at Hillcrest Elementary School (26.1%) and Glen View Elementary School (22.1%), both above the state average of 22.5%, while the district average is a much healthier 14.1%. The Howard School is a clear outlier, serving at-risk students with a 78.67% poverty rate, a 23.4:1 student-to-teacher ratio, and critically low test scores (8% proficient in English II vs. 67% state average). Overall, Lincoln Parish ranks in the 81st percentile statewide, offering a strong foundation, but families should weigh individual school performance, especially the sharp decline at Ruston Junior High and the attendance challenges at Hillcrest and Glen View.
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