New Tech @ Ruston: Empowering Students for Success in the 21st Century. Facilitating authentic learning through collaboration, innovation, and advanced technology. We believe that all people, regardless of social or economic condition, must be provided the capacity to take charge of their lives. Located in Ruston, Louisiana, New Tech @ Ruston opened in August 2010 with 100 freshmen students who have applied from Ruston Junior High School (public school), A. E. Phillips Laboratory School, and Cedar Creek School (private school). NT@R operates within the Freshman Academy, a special initiative for freshman students at Ruston High School. RHS is the largest school in Lincoln Parish and its student population of nearly 1100 closely mirrors the demographic make-up of the community. Listed as a rural area, the university town reflects a near 50-50 divide between caucasian and minority students with near 60% of them considered at-risk due to the free/reduced lunch numbers. With its student body selected through a lottery system, the student body of the incoming NT@R class also mirrors this demographic as well as a near 50-50 split between male and females. It is staffed by 7 teachers, a coordinator and director, and will spend the first semester in temporary quarters before moving into its newly renovated space in January 2011.