Summary:
The city of Dermott, Arkansas, is served by three schools—Dermott Elementary School (PK-6), Dermott High School (7-12), and Arkansas Consolidated High School-Dermott (9-12)—which together enroll about 305 students. The Dermott School District ranks in the bottom 22% of Arkansas districts (1-star rating), and two of the three schools report 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high-poverty community.
The standout story is Dermott High School, which has made a remarkable 40-percentile-point jump in state ranking over two years—from the 5th percentile (0 stars) to the 45th percentile (2 stars)—suggesting a strong turnaround. Its 9th graders now exceed state averages in ELA (45.4%) and Reading (50%). In contrast, Arkansas Consolidated High School-Dermott, an alternative school under the Division of Youth Services School System, faces a crisis with 0% Reading proficiency and a 6.2% dropout rate. Dermott Elementary School spends a high $22,192 per student with a low 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio, yet its academic performance remains below state averages, raising questions about resource effectiveness.
Key metrics show the district’s biggest weakness is math, with proficiency rates around 15-20% versus the state average of 44.1%. English Language Arts is the strongest subject, with Dermott High School reaching 35.7% (close to the state’s 39.4%). A notable “6th grade cliff” at Dermott Elementary sees ELA proficiency drop from 47.8% in 4th grade to just 13.3% in 6th grade, suggesting a transition challenge. Overall, while the district struggles with poverty and low scores, Dermott High School offers a glimmer of hope with its rapid improvement trajectory.
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