Summary:
In zip code 71270, there are four elementary schools serving students from Kindergarten through 5th grade in the Lincoln Parish school district, which is ranked in the top 20% of Louisiana districts.
For parents evaluating academic performance, Ruston Elementary School (grades 3-5) stands out as the top performer, scoring above the district average in Mathematics and outperforming Cypress Springs Elementary School (also grades 3-5) in every subject. Ruston Elementary also boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (10.7%) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.9:1) in the area. In contrast, Hillcrest Elementary School (grades K-2) has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (26.1%) and the highest student-teacher ratio (13.4:1), though it lacks recent test scores to compare academic performance. Glen View Elementary School (grades K-2) also has no recent test data, creating a gap in evaluating the early-grade schools' effectiveness.
A key takeaway is the strong link between economic need and attendance. The average free/reduced lunch rate across all four schools is 68.42%, indicating significant economic need. Cypress Springs Elementary School has the highest rate (72.63%) and a higher absenteeism rate (14.5%), while Ruston Elementary School has the lowest rate (62.95%) and the lowest absenteeism. Despite serving a population where nearly two-thirds are economically disadvantaged, Ruston Elementary achieves the strongest academic results, suggesting effective strategies are in place. Meanwhile, Hillcrest Elementary School was historically a top-performing school (ranking in the top 17% of the state from 2009-2012), but its current high absenteeism rate signals a significant change that parents should investigate further.
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