Summary:
The Heber Springs School District in Heber Springs, Arkansas, serves 1,617 students across three public schools—Heber Springs Elementary School (grades PK-5), Heber Springs Middle School (grades 6-8), and Heber Springs High School (grades 9-12)—and is ranked 33rd out of 251 districts in the state, earning a 4-star rating.
Each school has a distinct strength. Heber Springs Elementary School is the district’s engine, consistently outperforming the district average in every core subject and providing a strong foundation, especially in 5th grade where math (60.9%), reading (58.3%), and science (62.6%) proficiency rates far exceed state averages. Heber Springs Middle School is an academic powerhouse for advanced math, with an 88.9% proficiency rate in Algebra I—more than double the district average—though its general math proficiency (44.7%) lags slightly behind. Heber Springs High School excels in science, with a 66.5% Biology proficiency rate well above the state average of 42.7%, and operates with an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 8.1:1, the lowest in the district, fostering personalized learning. However, the high school struggles with an "ELA gap," scoring below the district average in English Language Arts, particularly for 9th graders (34.8% proficient).
Key metrics show the district spends an average of $11,283 per student, with a moderate economic diversity level (49.5% free/reduced lunch rate). The high school has an 88% graduation rate and a 2.6% dropout rate. A notable finding is the "Middle School Math Paradox," where the school excels at accelerating top math students but may need to support the broader student body in general math. Overall, the district’s high ranking is built on the elementary school’s consistent performance, while the middle and high schools offer specialized strengths in advanced math and science, respectively.
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