Howard School

Summary:

Howard School is an alternative public school located in Ruston, Louisiana, serving grades 2-12 with a total enrollment of 136 students. The school has a diverse student population, with 55.15% White, 36.03% African American, 1.47% Hispanic, and smaller percentages of other racial/ethnic groups.

Howard School's academic performance, as measured by LEAP test scores, is significantly lower than the state averages across multiple subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's proficiency rates in Mathematics (12-18%) and English Language Arts (21-35%) are well below the state averages (59% and 71%, respectively). Additionally, Howard School has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 18.39% to 43.38% over the past three school years, and a very high student-teacher ratio, ranging from 58 to 90.6 over the same period, significantly higher than the typical student-teacher ratio in Louisiana schools.

When comparing Howard School to nearby schools, it is clear that the school is an outlier in terms of academic performance. For instance, D'Arbonne Woods Charter School, located about 20 miles away, consistently outperforms the state and Howard School across various subjects and grade levels. Additionally, the racial composition of Howard School's student population differs significantly from some of the nearby schools, such as Lincoln Preparatory School, which has a student population that is 93.2% African American, compared to Howard School's 36.03%. These disparities, along with the school's high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, suggest that Howard School faces unique challenges and may require specialized strategies and resources to effectively support its students and improve their educational outcomes.


Detail:

Public, Alternative 2-12

 904 Deville Lane
       Ruston, LA  71270


(318) 255-5763

District: Howard School

SchoolDigger Rank:
443rd of 449 Louisiana Alternative Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $7,843 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  90.6 Help
Number of students:  136

Racial breakdown:

White:
55.1%
African American:
36.0%
Two or more races:
5.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  43.4% Help


 See top rated Louisiana elementary schools

 Compare Howard School to nearby alternative schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Howard School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2014 the calculated Average Standard Score was 3.24. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details Howard School ranks worse than 98.7% of middle schools in Louisiana. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 2.65. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details Howard School ranks worse than 89.5% of high schools in Louisiana. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.64. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (55.1%), African American (36%), two or more races (5.9%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 43.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Howard School is 90.6. (See more...)
Help
Compare Howard School employs 1.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Howard School is $7,843.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Howard School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Howard School 443rd of 449 Louisiana public middle schools. (See Howard School in the ranking list.)
SchoolDigger ranks Howard School 298th of 333 Louisiana public high schools. (See Howard School in the ranking list.)



What do you think?

Your rating for Howard School?

Rank History for Howard School

Help
Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2014 3.24 766th 777 1.4%
See the entire list of Louisiana Alternative School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Louisiana Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Howard School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2013 3.47 436th 457 4.6%
2014 5.48 443rd 470 5.7%
2015 6.23 457th 482 5.2%
2016 3.10 418th 435 3.9%
2017 1.91 427th 437 2.3%
2018 2.99 401st 411 2.4%
2019 3.55 437th 449 2.7%
2021 15.56 392nd 459 14.6%
2022 4.32 443rd 460 3.7%
2023 4.83 449th 465 3.4%
2024 2.65 443rd 449 1.3%
See the entire list of Louisiana Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 61.97 52nd 206 74.8%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 4.55 390th 403 3.2%
2019 6.03 419th 430 2.6%
2021 20.52 373rd 455 18.0%
2022 5.72 440th 458 3.9%
2023 7.73 436th 459 5.0%
2024 1.75 441st 444 0.7%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 14.54 385th 441 12.7%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 9.11 406th 442 8.1%
2024 5.82 411th 426 3.5%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 2.33 349th 350 0.3%
2021 12.17 337th 358 5.9%
2022 2.25 358th 362 1.1%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Louisiana Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Howard School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all high school students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2016 0.19 295th 297 0.7%
2018 4.05 291st 302 3.6%
2021 3.15 312th 322 3.1%
2022 7.78 297th 326 8.9%
2023 4.84 302nd 321 5.9%
2024 8.64 298th 333 10.5%
See the entire list of Louisiana Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 12.89 283rd 322 12.1%
2023 3.95 310th 321 3.4%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 11.71 275th 311 11.6%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 8.80 277th 306 9.5%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Howard School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools LA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 1.12 249th 250 0.4%
See the entire list of Best Louisiana Alternative Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Louisiana Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Howard School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Louisiana Dept of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Howard School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Howard School, submit a rating!


Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Howard School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2011 26 52 0 1 0 0 1 0 80
2012 27 49 0 1 0 0 0 0 77
2013 39 56 0 2 1 0 2 0 100
2014 37 63 0 1 0 0 1 0 102
2015 39 65 0 1 0 0 0 0 105
2016 39 47 0 0 1 0 1 0 88
2017 34 46 0 0 1 0 0 0 81
2018 36 42 1 2 1 0 1 0 83
2019 49 32 0 1 0 0 2 0 84
2020 52 38 0 2 0 0 2 0 94
2021 54 30 0 4 1 1 4 0 94
2022 55 26 0 1 0 0 5 0 87
2023 75 49 0 2 2 0 8 0 136

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Howard School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 80 3.1 25.7 13.8
2012 77 n/a n/a 11.7
2013 100 2.9 33.4 10
2014 102 2.9 34.1 31.4
2015 105 3.0 35.0 40
2016 88 6.0 14.6 n/a
2017 81 2.6 30.3 33.3
2018 83 12.0 6.9 9.6
2019 84 1.0 84.0 29.8
2020 94 1.0 94.0 51.1
2021 94 1.5 62.6 25.5
2022 87 1.5 58.0 18.4
2023 136 1.5 90.6 43.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Howard School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 80 3.1 25.7 13.8
2012 77 n/a n/a 11.7
2013 100 2.9 33.4 10
2014 102 2.9 34.1 31.4
2015 105 3.0 35.0 40
2016 88 6.0 14.6 n/a
2017 81 2.6 30.3 33.3
2018 83 12.0 6.9 9.6
2019 84 1.0 84.0 29.8
2020 94 1.0 94.0 51.1
2021 94 1.5 62.6 25.5
2022 87 1.5 58.0 18.4
2023 136 1.5 90.6 43.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Howard School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2017 $6,283
2021 $7,739
2022 $7,843

Data source: Louisiana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Howard School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 437th of 449 Middle schoolsRanks 449th of 465 Middle schools
 0.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade Mathematics (Howard School)1621
 5%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Louisiana)6158
 3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Howard School)2314
 9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Louisiana)7267
 5%
7th Grade Social Studies (Howard School)821
 13%
   7th Grade Social Studies (Louisiana)5552
 3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Howard School)2223
 1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Louisiana)5347
 6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Howard School)4424
 20%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Louisiana)7170
 1%
8th Grade Social Studies (Howard School)3224
 8%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Louisiana)6453
 11%
End of Course English I (Howard School)2728
 1%
   End of Course English I (Louisiana)7167
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students84136
 61.9%
African American3249
 53.1%
American Indian02
Asian00
Hispanic12
 100%
Pacific Islander00
White4975
 53.1%
Two or More Races28
 300%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients29.8%43.4%
 13.6%


Schools Near Howard School









Frequently Asked Questions about Howard School

In the 2022-23 school year, 136 students attended Howard School.

Howard School ranks in the bottom 1.3% of Louisiana alternative schools.

Students at Howard School are 55% White, 36% African American, 6% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic, 1% American Indian.


Rate Howard School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Howard School!




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Louisiana Dept of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 28 milliseconds.