Best Public Schools in Kingston, AR

The city of Kingston, Arkansas, is served by two small public schools—Kingston Elementary School (Pre-K through 6th grade) and Kingston High School (7th through 12th grade)—both part of the Jasper School District, with a combined enrollment of just 214 students and an extremely high rate of economic disadvantage (over 96% qualify for free or reduced lunch).

Kingston High School is the standout performer, consistently ranking among the top high schools in Arkansas despite its small size (92 students) and high poverty rate. It was ranked 6th in the state in 2023-2024 and remains in the top 25% with a 4-star rating. Its graduation rate of 90.9% slightly exceeds the state average, and its student-teacher ratio of just 2.6:1 allows for near-tutorial instruction, supported by high per-pupil spending of $18,227. In contrast, Kingston Elementary School shows more volatile performance, with state rankings swinging from the 68th percentile to the 22nd and back to the 53rd over three years. The elementary school excels in math (51% proficient vs. 44.1% state average) but struggles with a dramatic "4th grade slump"—the same cohort that scored 70% in ELA and 80% in math as 3rd graders dropped to just 16.7% in both subjects as 4th graders.

Key metrics reveal opposite strengths: the elementary school’s math program is its strongest subject, while the high school excels in Algebra (50% proficient vs. 36.9% state) but struggles in Geometry (10% vs. 26.4% state). The high school also has a puzzling 7th-grade class that scored 0% proficient in ELA and reading, likely due to a very small cohort. Both schools demonstrate remarkable resilience in the face of extreme poverty, with the high school’s consistent top-tier performance suggesting effective staff and support systems, while the elementary school’s volatility highlights how poverty can make performance fragile and easily disrupted.