Best Middle Schools in Jonesboro, AR

There are five middle schools in Jonesboro, Arkansas, serving grades 5 through 9 across four school districts, offering a diverse educational landscape for families.

The standout school in the area is Valley View Junior High School, which is the only school to earn a 5-star rating and ranks in the top 10% of all Arkansas middle schools. Its academic scores, particularly in Mathematics (58.5% proficiency), are dramatically higher than other Jonesboro schools and exceed the state average. In contrast, Douglas MacArthur Junior High School, Annie Camp Junior High School, and Nettleton Junior High School are the lowest-performing, all ranking in the bottom 20-30% of the state with 1-star or 0-star ratings. Westside Middle School occupies a solid middle ground as a 3-star school, with test scores generally on par with or slightly above the state average. The performance of these schools closely mirrors their respective districts: the Valley View School District is ranked 11th in the state, while the Jonesboro School District and Nettleton School District rank in the bottom 10-30%.

A key finding is that higher spending does not guarantee better results: Annie Camp Junior High School has the highest per-student spending ($13,005) but is one of the lowest-ranked, while Valley View Junior High School has the lowest spending ($10,661) and achieves the best outcomes. Additionally, in lower-performing schools, students taking advanced math courses like Algebra and Geometry perform exceptionally well, often far exceeding state averages, suggesting these schools effectively target advanced coursework to a select group while the general student body struggles. Westside Middle School stands out as a consistent, above-average performer, maintaining a 3-star rating for three consecutive years and offering a valuable example of solid results in a challenging environment.