Best Public Schools in Norfork, AR

The city of Norfork, Arkansas, is served by the Norfork School District, which includes two public schools—Norfork Elementary School (Pre-K through 6th grade) and Norfork High School (7th through 12th grade)—with a combined enrollment of 469 students. The district is ranked in the 81st percentile statewide, earning a 4-star rating, but the two schools tell very different stories. Norfork Elementary School is the standout, consistently outperforming state averages in all core subjects and earning a 4-star rating for three consecutive years, with a current state ranking in the 80th percentile. In contrast, Norfork High School has seen its ranking decline to the 47th percentile, earning a 2-star rating, with notable weaknesses in English Language Arts and Reading.

Key metrics highlight a spending paradox: Norfork High School spends $15,177 per student—21% more than the elementary school’s $12,547—and enjoys a much lower student-teacher ratio of 5.8:1 compared to 14.7:1 at the elementary level. Yet, the high school’s academic performance lags, particularly in literacy, where only 36.8% of students are proficient in English Language Arts versus the state average of 39.4%. The elementary school, meanwhile, achieves proficiency rates well above state averages across all subjects, including 59.6% in Mathematics and 56.3% in Science. The high school does show strength in STEM, with 58.7% proficiency in Mathematics and 61.1% in Science, and a standout 50% proficiency in Geometry compared to the state’s 26.4%.

Interesting findings reveal a clear "feeder pattern" problem, as strong performance at Norfork Elementary School does not seamlessly transition to the high school. For example, 6th graders achieve 53.5% proficiency in ELA, but 7th graders at the high school drop to 44.4%. A critical "9th grade slump" is evident, with only 20% of 9th graders proficient in ELA and 23.3% in Reading, far below state averages. The high school’s graduation rate of 87.8% also falls below the state average of 90.1%, though its dropout rate is low at 1.4%. These insights suggest that while the elementary school builds a strong foundation, the high school faces challenges in literacy and student transitions that require targeted attention.