School Ranked Top 1% of America's Best High Schools

The Niche.com rankings are in!
The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) has once again been ranked within the top one percent of public high schools in the nation, according to Niche’s 2019 Best Public High Schools in America list. Additionally, the school’s teachers were again listed as the third best public school faculty in the country. This is the fourth year in a row the school has received high rankings from Niche.

 “I love it here,” said History Instructor Kelly Lankford, who is entering her seventh year at the school. “LSMSA ranks so highly because the faculty love it here, and the students respond to that.”

Lankford stated that the environment and the community are what make the school such a unique one to attend.

Recent graduate Caitlin Foster (‘18) reflected the same sentiment. “I loved the community between the students and the teachers here,” she said. “It always felt open, and everyone was willing and happy to help.”

“Attending the school is a very unique and rigorous opportunity for Louisiana's best students to not only earn an internationally recognized diploma, but to also gain a significant number of college credit hours,” said Executive Director Steve Horton.

Through articulation agreements with schools in the University of Louisiana system, students have the opportunity to earn up to 74 hours of college credit for their LSMSA courses as well as pursue an associate’s degree while enrolled at LSMSA. Additionally, a robust Memorandum of Understanding with Northwestern State University gives students access to more than 80 courses that qualify for dual enrollment.  

 “All of our students are academically driven,” Horton continued. “However, we offer many opportunities for participation in athletic programs at LSMSA and through our partner parish schools. We appreciate the recognition given to us by Niche--both for our school and also for our excellent faculty and staff.”

Niche’s annual K-12 rankings are based on a rigorous analysis of dozens of statistical factors and millions of reviews from students and parents. Along with the rankings, Niche also released 2019 report cards, which assign letter grades to more than 100,000 K-12 schools and districts across America on topics like academics, college readiness and teachers.

LSMSA earned an A+ in academics, teachers, clubs and activities, administration, college prep, health and safety, and resources and facilities.

Currently, LSMSA is the only state-funded residential high school that specializes in nurturing the academic excellence of some of Louisiana’s top sophomores, juniors, and seniors.  With the competitive nature of admission into the school, students from all over the state actively seek out acceptance into the program.

For the school's full ranking, visit https://www.niche.com/k12/louisiana-school-for-math-science--and--the-arts-natchitoches-la/rankings/.
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