Best Public Schools in North Little Rock, AR

The North Little Rock, Arkansas area is home to 23 schools, including 15 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools, spread across the North Little Rock School District and the Pulaski County Special School District. The district also includes one charter school, Friendship Aspire Academy North Little Rock Elementary, and one public charter school, Westwind School For Performing Arts School.

A few schools stand out in the data, including Crestwood Elementary School and Lakewood Elementary School, which consistently rank among the top elementary schools in the state and have significantly higher test scores than the district and state averages. The charter schools, Friendship Aspire Academy North Little Rock Elementary and Westwind School For Performing Arts School, also outperform the traditional public schools in the area.

However, the North Little Rock School District as a whole is ranked 203 out of 250 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Proficiency rates on state assessments are generally well below the state averages, particularly in math and science. The schools with the highest percentages of free/reduced lunch recipients tend to have the lowest test scores, suggesting a correlation between poverty and academic performance. Addressing these achievement gaps will be a key priority for the district moving forward.