Summary:
The city of Donaldson, Arkansas, is served by a single, high-performing Ouachita School District, which includes Ouachita Elementary School (grades K-6) and Ouachita High School (grades 7-12), creating a small, close-knit educational environment for its 523 total students.
Ouachita Elementary School is the standout academic leader, consistently outperforming both district and state averages across all core subjects. Its 4th-grade class achieved a remarkable 71.8% proficiency rate in Mathematics, far exceeding the state average of 47%. In contrast, Ouachita High School excels in student support and post-secondary readiness, boasting an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.2:1 compared to the elementary school's 17.2:1. This personalized environment contributes to a strong 95% graduation rate and outstanding performance in advanced coursework, with 9th graders achieving 92.3% proficiency in Biology and 8th graders achieving 90% proficiency in Algebra—both dramatically above state averages.
The district ranks in the top 8% of all Arkansas districts (20th out of 251) with a 5-star rating. While overall proficiency is solid, Geometry is a clear weak point, with only 24.3% of high school students proficient, and 10th graders at just 9.5%. The high school's state ranking has shown positive improvement, jumping from the 55th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 79th percentile in 2025-2026. The district also serves a significant economically disadvantaged population, with over 52% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, yet still achieves these strong academic outcomes.
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