Summary:
The Magnolia School District in Magnolia, Arkansas, serves 2,386 students across four schools—Magnolia High School, Magnolia Middle School, Central Elementary School, and East Side Elementary School—and is ranked 207th out of 251 districts in the state, earning a 1-star rating. The district faces significant challenges, with all schools reporting free/reduced lunch rates above 97%, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage that heavily influences academic outcomes.
Among the schools, Magnolia Middle School stands out for its exceptional Algebra performance, with 78.2% of students proficient on the ATLAS exam in 2025-2026—more than triple the district average and double the state average. This suggests a highly effective advanced math program. In contrast, Central Elementary School shows consistent underperformance across all subjects, with 5th-grade scores particularly low (e.g., 20.3% proficient in ELA vs. 40.9% statewide). Magnolia High School presents a mixed picture: it boasts a strong 92.4% graduation rate (above the state average) and excellent 9th-grade Biology proficiency (87.5%), but test scores drop dramatically in 10th grade, with Biology falling to just 20.2% proficient. East Side Elementary School lacks recent test score data, making it difficult to assess its academic performance.
Key takeaways for parents include the district's high spending variability—ranging from $11,865 per student at East Side Elementary to $15,056 at Magnolia Middle School—which does not guarantee higher overall scores. The student-teacher ratio also varies widely, from 10.8:1 at Magnolia Middle School to 17.3:1 at East Side Elementary. While the district struggles with poverty-related challenges, pockets of excellence like Magnolia Middle School's Algebra program and Magnolia High School's 9th-grade Biology results show that strong outcomes are possible. However, the dramatic performance drop between 9th and 10th grade at the high school is a critical concern that warrants further investigation.
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