- Enrollment
- 1,212
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ruston, LA
Hillcrest Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Hillcrest Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 220099000747
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hillcrest Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Louisiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Louisiana schools.
- #4 of 5
- elementary schools in Ruston · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 70.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Hillcrest Elementary School has class sizes near the Louisiana median. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hillcrest Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Ruston, LA.
School address
District: Lincoln Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220099000747 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-34 students YoY
Hillcrest Elementary School shrank from 397 students in 2022-23 to 363 in 2023-24 (-8.6%).
Teacher FTE added 22.4 → 30.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-34 students YoY 220099000747 · Ruston, LA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
326 enr · 14.8:1 · 70.3% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Ruston High School (1,212 students)
Hillcrest Elementary School shrank from 397 students in 2022-23 to 363 in 2023-24 (-8.6%). Teacher FTE added 22.4 → 30.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Louisiana schools → · Find another →
Hillcrest Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ruston High Sc
Ruston High School
1,212 students
- Ruston Junior
Ruston Junior High School
585 students
- Choudrant Elem
Choudrant Elementary School
536 students
- Simsboro High
Simsboro High School
532 students
- Glen View Elem 438
Glen View Elementary School
438 students
- This school 326
Hillcrest Elementary School
326 students
What this shows Hillcrest Elementary School reports 326 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hillcrest Elementary School compares
Hillcrest Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▼ 12% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.3% | ▲ 12% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 326 | top 69% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
326
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 33% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
13.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$15,353
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,812
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 326 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 43.9%
White 29.4%
Hispanic or Latino 17.5%
Two or More 7.1%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 43.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.5, Hillcrest Elementary School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
District finance for Lincoln Parish reports $15,353 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Hillcrest Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruston High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ruston Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Choudrant Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Simsboro High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Glen View Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hillcrest Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 585
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 536
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar elementary schools in Ruston
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Glen View Elementary School
Standard public school
438 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
A. E. Phillips Laboratory School
Standard public school
412 students 24.2:1 students per teacher
Cypress Springs Elementary School
Standard public school
369 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Ruston Elementary School
Standard public school
359 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~326 students)
Frequently asked questions about Hillcrest Elementary School
How many students attend Hillcrest Elementary School?
Hillcrest Elementary School has 326 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ruston, LA. CCD year-over-year: 397 (2022-23) → 363 (2023-24), down 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest Elementary School is 14.8:1, which is 12% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hillcrest Elementary School?
70.3% of students at Hillcrest Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hillcrest Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Hillcrest Elementary School is African American at 43.9% of enrollment, in Ruston, LA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hillcrest Elementary School?
Hillcrest Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hillcrest Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Ruston?
By Resource Investment Index, Hillcrest Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Ruston, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Ruston on the city page.
What other schools are in Lincoln Parish?
Besides Hillcrest Elementary School, Lincoln Parish also operates Ruston High School (1,212 students), Ruston Junior High School (585 students), and Choudrant Elementary School (536 students). See the Lincoln Parish district page for the complete list.