Concord Elementary School

Concord Elementary School is a small, rural school in Concord, AR, serving 197 students in grades K-6 and part of the Concord School District, which holds a 3-star rating. This school stands out for its remarkable upward momentum, climbing from the 39th percentile in Arkansas elementary school rankings to the 58th percentile in just one year, a strong sign that recent efforts are paying off. With a low student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1 and the highest per-student spending in the area at $17,759, the school has the resources to provide individualized attention, though its overall test scores still trail some nearby peers.

A standout strength is the exceptional performance of 3rd graders, who achieved proficiency rates of 65.5% in Science and 51.7% in Reading—well above state averages. However, the school faces a unique challenge: a sharp decline in 4th grade scores across all subjects, with Reading dropping from 51.7% to 29.4% and Math from 48.2% to 23.5%. This "4th grade wall" is not seen in nearby schools like West Side Elementary School, a top-performing 5-star school just 18 miles away that proves high achievement is possible despite economic challenges. Concord can look to West Side as a model while working to bridge this critical gap.

Compared to its closest neighbor, Midland Elementary School, which is struggling with a 1-star rating, Concord's upward trend shows it is successfully differentiating itself. While schools like Heber Springs Elementary School and Pangburn Elementary School achieve higher overall scores with less spending, Concord's small size and high investment offer a foundation for growth. The key takeaway for parents is that Concord is a school on the rise, with strong early grades and the resources to address its 4th-grade slump, making it a promising option for families seeking a close-knit learning environment.