Summary:
The city of Emerson, Arkansas, is home to two public schools—Emerson Elementary School (grades K-6) and Emerson High School (grades 7-12)—both part of the highly-rated Emerson Taylor Bradley School District, which ranks in the 82nd percentile statewide.
Emerson Elementary School is the standout academic powerhouse in the area. With 226 students, it consistently earns a 5-star rating and ranks in the 98th percentile among Arkansas elementary schools. Its students dramatically outperform state averages across all subjects: 76% are proficient in mathematics versus 44.1% statewide, and 68.2% are proficient in English language arts compared to 39.4% statewide. In contrast, Emerson High School presents a more mixed picture. While it also earns a 5-star rating and ranks in the 96th percentile, its test scores often fall below the district average—for example, only 45.9% of high school students are proficient in science versus the district's 55.8%. However, the high school boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.8:1 and spends $12,953 per student, which likely drives its high ranking through personalized instruction and strong growth metrics.
A key concern is the performance gap between the two schools. While both serve similar socioeconomic populations (about half qualify for free or reduced lunch), the high school's graduation rate of 85.7% trails the state average of 90.1%. On a positive note, the high school has shown dramatic improvement, leaping from the 80th to the 96th percentile in just one year. For parents, Emerson Elementary School offers exceptional academic foundations, while Emerson High School provides an intimate, resource-rich environment that is rapidly improving, though it faces challenges in maintaining consistent proficiency across all subjects.
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