Summary:
The city of Rison, Arkansas, is home to two high schools serving grades 7 through 12: Rison High School and Woodlawn High School, which belong to the Cleveland County School District and Woodlawn School District, respectively.
Rison High School is the standout performer in the area, consistently outperforming Woodlawn High School across most academic metrics. Rison has a higher state ranking (167th out of 293 schools in 2025-2026, compared to Woodlawn's 224th) and excels in Mathematics and Science, with 51.7% and 58% proficiency rates respectively—both exceeding state averages. However, Rison has experienced a sharp decline in its state ranking over the past two years, dropping from the 83rd percentile to the 43rd percentile. Woodlawn High School, while smaller with 261 students, struggles significantly in Science (28.8% proficiency) and Biology (26.4% proficiency), both well below state averages. Despite these academic challenges, both schools boast impressive graduation rates of 94.0%, exceeding the state average of 90.1%.
An interesting paradox is that Rison High School spends $800 more per student ($13,448 vs. $12,648) and has a better student-teacher ratio (9.4:1 vs. 10.8:1) than Woodlawn, yet its test scores in English Language Arts and Biology fall below state averages. Both schools also show a notable "9th grade slump," with significantly lower proficiency in English Language Arts and Algebra compared to state averages, suggesting a need for stronger transition support. Overall, while Rison offers stronger academic programs in math and science, both schools successfully keep students on track to graduate, though Woodlawn's lower test scores indicate that graduates may not achieve the same level of academic proficiency as their peers statewide.
Thank you for your feedback!