Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 11 schools in district

Ruston Junior High School

481 Tarbutton Road, Ruston, LA 71270Lincoln Parish →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 07–08Non-Charter
558
Students
Total enrolled
$16,869
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 18% vs nat'l
16.5 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 7% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 558 students in grades 07–08 in Ruston, Louisiana.
18% above average funding
District spends $16,869 per pupil, 18% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Ruston Junior High School is a large middle in Ruston, Louisiana, serving grades 07–08 with 558 students. The district invests $16,869 per student — 18% above the national average of $14,347, with a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Ruston Junior High School

558
Total Students
16.5 : 1
Student:Teacher
60%
Free Lunch
34
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (07–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution287 male · 271 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility60%
National avg 52% · 332 students
Student Composition
38%
9%
51%
Asian1%
White38%
Hispanic / Latino9%
Black51%
Multiracial1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 220099001815

Academic Outcomes at Ruston Junior High School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 63th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 71270

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,869Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,869
State avg
$18,624
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,422
Student Support$3,205
Administration$2,024
Operations$2,530
Other$1,687
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,869 spent per student, an estimated $7,473 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
33%
53%
State government
33.0%
Local (property tax)
52.6%
Federal programs
14.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $16,869/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Choudrant Elementary SchoolGlen View Elementary SchoolHillcrest Elementary SchoolCypress Springs Elementary School
+2 more
↓
Middle
I.A. Lewis School
↓
High School
Ruston High SchoolChoudrant High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades07 – 08
Location—
CountyLincoln Parish
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictLincoln Parish →
Phone: (318)251-1601
NCES ID: 220099001815
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Ruston seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Lincoln Parish
High
Ruston High School
1,310 students · 09–12
● 46 opp50% FRL
Elem
Choudrant Elementary School
591 students · PK–06
47% FRL
Other
Simsboro High School
554 students · PK–12
● 39 opp70% FRL
Elem
Glen View Elementary School
487 students · KG–02
● 46 opp69% FRL
Elem
Hillcrest Elementary School
397 students · KG–02
● 46 opp71% FRL
Elem
Cypress Springs Elementary School
385 students · 03–05
● 46 opp71% FRL
High
Choudrant High School
356 students · 07–12
45% FRL
Elem
Ruston Elementary School
341 students · 03–05
● 46 opp63% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
481 Tarbutton Road, Ruston, LA 71270
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.