Summary:
Bella Vista, Arkansas, is home to a single elementary school, Cooper Elementary School, which serves students from Kindergarten through 4th grade and is part of the highly-ranked Bentonville School District.
As the only elementary school in the city, Cooper Elementary stands out for its consistent academic excellence, having earned a 5-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the top 6% of Arkansas elementary schools. The school is a true powerhouse in Mathematics and Science, with 4th graders achieving an 84% proficiency rate in Math and 79.3% in Science in the 2025-2026 school year—far exceeding both state and district averages. While its English Language Arts and Reading scores (59.7% and 56.7% proficient, respectively) are well above state averages, they fall slightly below the district's high benchmarks, suggesting a potential area for focused improvement. The school also serves a relatively affluent student population, with only 19.43% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Key metrics for Cooper Elementary include a total enrollment of 628 students, a student-teacher ratio of 19.6:1, and per-student spending of $10,656. The school has shown notable year-over-year improvement in Science, with proficiency rising from 67.5% to 73.2%. Despite a slight dip in state ranking from 17th to 29th, this reflects increased competition among top-tier schools rather than a decline in performance, as Math and Science proficiency actually increased. The school's success appears driven by effective teaching and curriculum design rather than exceptionally low class sizes or high spending, making it a standout choice for families prioritizing STEM education in Bella Vista.
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