Louisiana’s Top 5 Public HS Football Programs (2021–2025)

Public Schools Top 25 | National Series — Part 18/50
Louisiana high school football operates under one of the most unique postseason formats in the country. Beginning with the 2022 season, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association separated programs into Select and Non-Select divisions, largely splitting private schools from traditional public programs.
The system produces eight champions each season — four Select and four Non-Select. The 2021 season, however, was the final year of the previous five-classification format (1A–5A).
Because of that structural change, evaluating Louisiana’s top programs during the 2021–2025 window requires examining championships, championship-game appearances, and consistency across multiple postseason formats.
Across the last five seasons, five public programs clearly separated themselves from the rest of the Pelican State.
🥇 1. Edna Karr Cougars
Accomplishments (2021–2025)
2024 Division I Select State Champion
2025 Division I Select State Champion
#3 in the final 2025 #PublicSchoolsTop25
Edna Karr has emerged as the premier public-school football program in Louisiana.
Due to state rules, charter schools compete in the Select division, where Karr faces elite private programs such as Catholic-BR, St. Thomas More, and John Curtis. The Cougars rose to the top of that field in dominant fashion, capturing back-to-back Division I Select championships in 2024 and 2025.
With one of the deepest talent pipelines in the state and consistent national-level recruiting classes, Karr has established itself as Louisiana’s top public power during this five-year window.
🥈 2. Sterlington Panthers
Accomplishments (2021–2025)
2021 Class 3A State Champion
2023 Division III Non-Select Runner-Up
2024 Division III Non-Select State Champion
2025 Division III Non-Select State Champion
No Louisiana public program captured more championships during this stretch than Sterlington.
The Panthers collected three state titles in five seasons and reached another championship game in 2023. Their disciplined, physical brand of football has made them a postseason force in the mid-size classifications.
While they compete below the largest classification, Sterlington’s trophy case during this span is one of the most impressive in the state.
🥉 3. Ruston Bearcat
Accomplishments (2021–2025)
2023 Division I Non-Select State Champion
Division I Non-Select Runner-Up: 2022, 2024, 2025
Ruston has been the defining program in Louisiana’s largest public-school bracket.
After a quarterfinal exit in 2021, the Bearcats launched an extraordinary run that included four consecutive Division I Non-Select championship game appearances from 2022 through 2025. Their breakthrough came in 2023, when they defeated Zachary in the Superdome to capture the program’s first title in decades.
Consistent dominance in the state’s toughest public classification keeps Ruston firmly among Louisiana’s elite.
4. Zachary Broncos
Accomplishments (2021–2025)
2021 Class 5A State Champion (15–0)
2023 Division I Non-Select Runner-Up
Zachary opened the five-year window with one of the most dominant seasons in Louisiana history.
The Broncos finished 15–0 in 2021, winning the final Class 5A championship before the Select / Non-Select format reshaped the postseason. They returned to the Superdome again in 2023, finishing runner-up to Ruston.
Few programs in Louisiana have maintained a higher competitive floor over the last half-decade.
5. Destrehan Wildcats
Accomplishments (2021–2025)
2022 Division I Non-Select State Champion (14–0)
Destrehan delivered one of the most dominant championship seasons of the five-year window.
The Wildcats completed a perfect 14–0 season in 2022, defeating Ruston in the Division I Non-Select state championship game. Even outside that title year, Destrehan has remained a perennial contender in Louisiana’s toughest public-school bracket.
Just Outside the Top Five
Several programs built strong résumés during the 2021–2025 window but fall just short of the top tier.
Oak Grove
Division IV Non-Select Champions: 2022, 2023
Haynesville
Division IV Non-Select Champion: 2025
Runner-Up: 2023, 2024
Westgate
2021 Class 4A State Champion
Lutcher
2022 Division II Non-Select State Champion
Final Ranking
1️⃣ Edna Karr
2️⃣ Sterlington
3️⃣ Ruston
4️⃣ Zachary
5️⃣ Destrehan
The Verdict
Over the past five seasons, Louisiana public football has been defined by three major storylines:
• Edna Karr dominating the Select division
• Sterlington collecting three state championships
• Ruston reaching four straight Division I Non-Select title games
Together, these programs represent the standard of public-school excellence in Louisiana from 2021–2025.