Summary:
Donaldson, Arkansas, is home to a single high school, Ouachita High School, which serves grades 7 through 12 and is part of the top-performing Ouachita School District, a 5-star district ranked in the top 8% of the state.
Ouachita High School is a standout institution on a strong upward trajectory, having jumped from the 55th percentile to the 79th percentile in state rankings over the past two years. With a total enrollment of 243 students, the school boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.2:1, fostering a highly personalized learning environment. Academically, the school outperforms state averages across all core subjects, with a particularly impressive showing in science: 63.9% of students are proficient in Biology (compared to the state's 42.7%), and 53.9% are proficient in general Science (versus 44.0% statewide). The school also maintains a high graduation rate of 95.0% and a low dropout rate of 1.2%, indicating strong student support.
While the school excels in many areas, there are specific challenges. Geometry proficiency is a weak point, with only 24.3% of students proficient, below the state average of 26.4%, and 10th graders particularly struggle at 9.5% proficiency. Additionally, there is a notable "Algebra gap": 8th graders taking Algebra achieve a 90% proficiency rate, but 9th graders in the same subject drop to just 23%, suggesting that early access to advanced coursework benefits a select group. Overall, Ouachita High School offers a supportive, improving environment with strong science instruction and individualized attention, though families should be aware of the challenges in Geometry and the disparity in Algebra performance by grade level.
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