Summary:
The city of Hot Springs, Arkansas, is served by 16 schools across four districts—Lakeside School District (Garland), Hot Springs School District, Fountain Lake School District, and Cutter Morning Star School District—educating about 9,050 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with a clear divide between the high-performing Lakeside district and the other three lower-ranked districts.
The standout performer is the entire Lakeside School District (Garland), ranked 18th in Arkansas with a 5-star rating, where all schools—including Lakeside High School, Lakeside Junior High School, and Lakeside Primary School—consistently exceed state averages. Notably, Lakeside Junior High School is a math powerhouse with 90.2% Algebra proficiency, far above the state average of 36.9%. In contrast, the Hot Springs School District struggles overall, but Park Magnet An Ib Pyp World Class School is a bright spot, earning a 4-star rating and outperforming its district despite a 100% free/reduced lunch rate. Meanwhile, Hot Springs World Class High School spends the most per student ($18,164) but has low test scores and the highest dropout rate (3.9%), highlighting the challenge of poverty.
Key takeaways include the success of Park Magnet versus the struggles of other magnets like Main Street Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School, suggesting implementation matters more than the magnet label. Cutter-Morning Star Elementary School shows a sharp drop in math proficiency from 4th to 5th grade, warranting attention. Overall, families should consider the stark performance gap between Lakeside and other districts, with Fountain Lake Elementary offering a moderate option, while high-poverty schools in Hot Springs face significant hurdles despite higher funding.
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