Taylor Elementary School

Taylor Elementary School in Taylor, AR, serves 341 students in grades K-6 and is part of the high-performing Emerson Taylor Bradley School District, which ranks in the top 20% of districts statewide.

Taylor Elementary stands out for its consistent, high-level academic performance over nearly a decade, earning 4 or 5 stars from the state. Its strongest subject is mathematics, where 60.8% of all students were proficient in the most recent school year—well above the state average of 44.1%. This math strength is especially notable in 3rd grade, where 80% of students achieved proficiency. The school also operates with notable efficiency, spending $9,911 per student, the lowest among nearby schools, while still delivering strong results. For comparison, Emerson Elementary School spends $11,600 per student and Bradley Elementary School spends $12,103 per student, yet both are in the same district. Meanwhile, Lafayette County Elementary spends $17,858 per student but ranks in the bottom 3% of the state, highlighting how Taylor Elementary achieves top-tier results with a leaner budget.

One interesting pattern at Taylor Elementary is a dip in 4th-grade test scores across all subjects—for example, math proficiency drops from 80% in 3rd grade to 40.7% in 4th grade—before recovering in 5th and 6th grades. This may point to a challenging curriculum transition or a cohort effect worth investigating. While Emerson Elementary currently leads the district in every subject and grade, Taylor Elementary has a strong historical track record, having ranked as high as 10th in the state in prior years. With its efficient spending, strong math program, and stable performance, Taylor Elementary offers a reliable, high-quality education option for families in the area.