Is Lancaster High a good school?

Lancaster High ranks in the bottom 17.9% of Virginia high schools.

How many students attend Lancaster High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 408 students attended Lancaster High.

What is the racial makeup of Lancaster High?

Students at Lancaster High are 49% African American, 39% White, 7% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Lancaster High?

Lancaster High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Lancaster Elementary School

Lancaster High

Summary:

Lancaster High is a public high school serving grades 8-12 with a total enrollment of 403 students in Lancaster, Virginia. The school is part of the Lancaster County Public Schools district, which is ranked 106 out of 130 districts in Virginia and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Lancaster High stands out in several key areas compared to nearby schools like Rappahannock High and Middlesex High. The school has a significantly higher percentage of African American students (48.14%) and consistently ranks in the bottom half of Virginia high schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Lancaster High's test scores are generally lower than state and district averages, and the school has an extremely high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, reaching over 100% in the 2022-2023 school year. Additionally, Lancaster High's spending per student ($9,521 in 2020-2021) is lower than the nearby schools.

These findings suggest that Lancaster High is facing significant challenges, including racial disparities, socioeconomic difficulties, and funding discrepancies. The school's consistent underperformance indicates a need for targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes. However, the proximity of Lancaster High to other high-performing schools presents an opportunity for collaboration and the sharing of best practices, which could help address the underlying issues and provide a pathway for the school's improvement.

Detail:

Public 8-12

8815 Mary Ball Rd
Lancaster, VA 22503

(804) 462-5100

District: Lancaster County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
270^th of 329 Virginia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,521

Student/teacher ratio: 12.9

Number of students: 408

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.0%

White:

39.2%

Two or more races:

7.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 98.5%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Lancaster High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Lancaster High ranks worse than 64% of middle schools in Virginia. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 42.56. (See more...)

Compare Details Lancaster High ranks worse than 82.1% of high schools in Virginia. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 33.75. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Lancaster High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (49%), White (39.2%), two or more races (7.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 98.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lancaster High is 12.9. (See more...)

Compare Lancaster High employs 31.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lancaster High is $9,521.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lancaster High:

SchoolDigger ranks Lancaster High 267^th of 417 Virginia public middle schools. (See Lancaster High in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Lancaster High 270^th of 329 Virginia public high schools. (See Lancaster High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

Lancaster County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Lancaster County Public Schools 106^th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Lancaster High?

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Rank History for Lancaster High

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Rank History for all middle school students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	4.56	408^th	422	3.3%
2024	42.56	267^th	417	36.0%

See the entire list of Virginia High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	52.75	188^th	402	53.2%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	2.77	405^th	411	1.5%
2024	48.36	228^th	407	44.0%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	1.40	407^th	409	0.5%
2024	29.97	305^th	407	25.1%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	1.50	297^th	298	0.3%
2024	49.26	164^th	299	45.2%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	4.42	398^th	402	1.0%
2024	40.45	260^th	396	34.3%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Lancaster High

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Rank History for all high school students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	VA State Percentile
2005	32.27	262^nd	308	14.9%
2006	44.82	193^rd	314	38.5%
2007	48.75	155^th	313	50.5%
2008	42.25	202^nd	316	36.1%
2009	36.06	232^nd	313	25.9%
2010	35.01	246^th	317	22.4%
2011	27.25	279^th	320	12.8%
2012	37.55	235^th	321	26.8%
2013	18.15	301^st	321	6.2%
2014	13.78	312^th	322	3.1%
2015	17.81	305^th	322	5.3%
2016	17.00	307^th	321	4.4%
2017	19.33	302^nd	324	6.8%
2018	16.87	306^th	326	6.1%
2019	17.76	310^th	327	5.2%
2021	11.46	304^th	327	7.0%
2022	34.76	239^th	325	26.5%
2023	44.65	219^th	326	32.8%
2024	33.75	270^th	329	17.9%

See the entire list of Virginia High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	27.44	286^th	320	10.6%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	48.88	198^th	320	38.1%
2024	28.91	284^th	322	11.8%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Disabled students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	49.73	128^th	249	48.6%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	42.69	218^th	321	32.1%
2024	33.73	257^th	322	20.2%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	45.01	142^nd	240	40.8%
2024	23.83	230^th	249	7.6%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Lancaster High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	VA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	58.02	142^nd	315	54.9%
2024	41.29	234^th	314	25.5%

See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Virginia Department 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.

Data source: Virginia Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Lancaster High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	587	587
1990	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	583	583
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	557	557
1992	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	561	561
1993	226	208	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	437
1994	237	206	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	443
1995	268	216	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	485
1996	268	216	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	485
1997	262	198	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	460
1998	273	224	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	498
1999	262	251	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	514
2000	267	248	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	-4	512
2001	250	260	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	512
2002	221	234	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	461
2003	221	234	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	461
2004	210	225	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	438
2005	228	234	4	5	0	n/a	n/a	1	472
2006	248	232	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	487
2007	259	231	5	4	0	n/a	n/a	1	500
2008	241	236	6	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	487
2009	221	227	6	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	455
2010	226	219	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	449
2011	199	183	4	6	0	0	14	0	406
2012	195	173	6	3	0	0	13	0	390
2013	201	175	4	4	0	0	16	0	400
2014	179	190	6	0	0	0	14	0	389
2015	176	182	5	0	0	0	12	0	375
2016	174	196	4	7	0	2	10	0	393
2017	160	198	5	9	0	1	13	0	386
2018	160	174	7	7	0	1	16	0	365
2019	166	184	7	7	1	0	16	0	381
2020	155	190	5	3	1	0	16	0	370
2021	149	176	4	1	1	0	12	0	343
2022	154	177	2	4	1	0	16	0	354
2023	170	194	2	8	0	0	29	0	403
2024	160	200	4	14	0	0	30	0	408

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 Lancaster High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	587	35.3	16.6	n/a
1990	583	37.8	15.4	n/a
1991	557	36.3	15.3	n/a
1992	561	37.0	15.1	n/a
1993	437	32.3	13.5	n/a
1994	443	28.9	n/a	26.4
1995	485	n/a	0.0	28
1996	485	n/a	0.0	28
1997	460	n/a	0.0	25.4
1998	498	n/a	0.0	24.7
1999	514	30.3	17.0	33.1
2000	512	n/a	0.0	32.4
2001	512	n/a	0.0	33
2002	461	47.0	9.8	37.1
2003	461	47.0	9.8	37.1
2004	438	36.0	12.2	42.5
2005	472	38.0	12.4	40.3
2006	487	38.0	12.8	44.6
2007	500	34.5	14.5	38.9
2008	487	24.0	20.3	43.1
2009	455	21.0	21.7	47
2010	449	20.6	21.7	47.9
2011	406	21.1	19.2	59.1
2012	390	35.5	10.9	59.2
2013	400	32.7	12.1	57.8
2014	389	34.8	11.1	63.5
2015	375	33.0	11.3	65.3
2016	393	32.0	12.2	65.1
2017	386	30.0	12.8	63
2018	365	30.0	12.1	66.3
2019	381	31.1	12.2	53.3
2020	370	25.0	14.7	55.1
2021	343	25.0	13.7	n/a
2022	354	27.2	12.9	57.6
2023	403	32.5	12.4	100.2
2024	408	31.5	12.9	98.5

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 Lancaster High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	587	35.3	16.6	n/a
1990	583	37.8	15.4	n/a
1991	557	36.3	15.3	n/a
1992	561	37.0	15.1	n/a
1993	437	32.3	13.5	n/a
1994	443	28.9	n/a	26.4
1995	485	n/a	0.0	28
1996	485	n/a	0.0	28
1997	460	n/a	0.0	25.4
1998	498	n/a	0.0	24.7
1999	514	30.3	17.0	33.1
2000	512	n/a	0.0	32.4
2001	512	n/a	0.0	33
2002	461	47.0	9.8	37.1
2003	461	47.0	9.8	37.1
2004	438	36.0	12.2	42.5
2005	472	38.0	12.4	40.3
2006	487	38.0	12.8	44.6
2007	500	34.5	14.5	38.9
2008	487	24.0	20.3	43.1
2009	455	21.0	21.7	47
2010	449	20.6	21.7	47.9
2011	406	21.1	19.2	59.1
2012	390	35.5	10.9	59.2
2013	400	32.7	12.1	57.8
2014	389	34.8	11.1	63.5
2015	375	33.0	11.3	65.3
2016	393	32.0	12.2	65.1
2017	386	30.0	12.8	63
2018	365	30.0	12.1	66.3
2019	381	31.1	12.2	53.3
2020	370	25.0	14.7	55.1
2021	343	25.0	13.7	n/a
2022	354	27.2	12.9	57.6
2023	403	32.5	12.4	100.2
2024	408	31.5	12.9	98.5

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 Lancaster High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$556 (5.9%)	$8,879 (94.1%)	$9,435
2020	$304 (3.0%)	$9,757 (97.0%)	$10,061
2021	$607 (6.4%)	$8,914 (93.6%)	$9,521

Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lancaster High

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 310^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 219^th of 326 High schools	27.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Geometry (Lancaster High)	51	50	1%
End of Course Geometry (Lancaster County Public Schools)	59	50	9%
End of Course Geometry (Virginia)	83	80	3%
End of Course Algebra I (Lancaster High)	60	88	28%
End of Course Algebra I (Lancaster County Public Schools)	60	87	27%
End of Course Algebra I (Virginia)	86	80	6%
End of Course Biology (Lancaster High)	84	77	7%
End of Course Biology (Lancaster County Public Schools)	84	77	7%
End of Course Biology (Virginia)	83	70	13%
End of Course English Reading (Lancaster High)	78	84	6%
End of Course English Reading (Lancaster County Public Schools)	77	84	7%
End of Course English Reading (Virginia)	86	85	1%
End of Course VA and US History (Lancaster High)	48	22	26%
End of Course VA and US History (Lancaster County Public Schools)	48	21	27%
End of Course VA and US History (Virginia)	68	38	30%
End of Course World History I (Lancaster High)	55	46	9%
End of Course World History I (Lancaster County Public Schools)	55	45	10%
End of Course World History I (Virginia)	80	66	14%
End of Course World History II (Lancaster High)	59	24	35%
End of Course World History II (Lancaster County Public Schools)	58	24	34%
End of Course World History II (Virginia)	81	48	33%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	381	403	5.8%
African American	184	194	5.4%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	7	2	71.4%
Hispanic	7	8	14.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	166	170	2.4%
Two or More Races	16	29	81.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	53.3%	100.2%	47%

Schools Near Lancaster High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SOL Writing (2024)	SOL Geometry (2024)		SOL Algebra I (2024)				SOL Algebra II (2024)	SOL Mathematics (2024)	SOL Biology (2024)	SOL Science (2024)	SOL Earth Science (2024)	SOL English Reading (2024)		SOL VA and US History (2024)	SOL World History I (2024)			SOL World History II (2024)	SOL Civics and Economics (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 10th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Lancaster High	Public	8-12	8815 Mary Ball Rd	Lancaster	22503	Lancaster County	Lancaster County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 462-5100	408	32	12.9	98.5%	160 (39.2%)	200 (49.0%)	14 (3.4%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.4%)	33.8	270^th of 329 public high schools	17.9%		44.7	219^th of 326 public high schools	32.8%	51			92.3	100.0	69.5				50.8	80.0	48.8	75.0	71.3	79.4	25.7	33.3		53.9			$9,521	$607	$8,914
Northumberland High	Public	9-12	201 Academic Lane	Heathsville	22473	Northumberland County	Northumberland County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 580-5192	378	34	11.1	95.8%	188 (49.7%)	140 (37.0%)	34 (9.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (3.7%)	62.7	131^st of 329 public high schools	60.2%		52.5	177^th of 326 public high schools	45.7%	46			83.3		96.7			100.0		72.9				85.2		69.9					$9,424	$427	$8,996
Middlesex High	Public	9-12	454 General Puller Highway	Saluda	23149	Middlesex County	Middlesex County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 758-2132	356	31	11.4	97.8%	258 (72.5%)	59 (16.6%)	21 (5.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.5%)	76.2	47^th of 329 public high schools	85.7%		66.7	104^th of 326 public high schools	68.1%	57	82.6				95.8					84.6				91.3		75.3					$14,348	$483	$13,866
Rappahannock High	Public	8-12	6914 Richmond Rd	Warsaw	22572	Richmond County	Richmond County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 333-3551	544	35	15.4	79.2%	331 (60.8%)	107 (19.7%)	75 (13.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.3%)	57	160^th of 329 public high schools	51.4%		50.4	185^th of 326 public high schools	43.3%	25		100.0	94.7	95.8	76.5	84.6	100.0	100.0	33.3	73.9	63.7		75.5	81.7		84.2	100.0		0.0	78.2	$7,769	$428	$7,341

Lancaster High

Lancaster High:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Lancaster County Public Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Lancaster High

Rank History for all middle school students at Lancaster High

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lancaster High

Rank History for middle school Female students at Lancaster High

Rank History for middle school Male students at Lancaster High

Rank History for middle school African American students at Lancaster High

Rank History for middle school White students at Lancaster High

Rank History for Lancaster High

Rank History for all high school students at Lancaster High

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lancaster High

Rank History for high school Female students at Lancaster High

Rank History for high school Disabled students at Lancaster High

Rank History for high school Male students at Lancaster High

Rank History for high school African American students at Lancaster High

Rank History for high school White students at Lancaster High

Enrollment information for Lancaster High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Lancaster High

Student/Teacher Ratio Lancaster High

Per Pupil Expenditures for Lancaster High

Impact of COVID-19 on Lancaster High

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Lancaster High

Frequently Asked Questions about Lancaster High

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