Summary:
The two public schools in Norman, Arkansas, part of the Caddo Hills School District, serve 585 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a rural area with high economic disadvantage, where over 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Caddo Hills Elementary School (grades PK-6) stands out for its consistent, broad-based academic excellence, outperforming state averages in all four core subjects (ELA, Reading, Math, Science) for the 2025-2026 school year. Its 4th-grade cohort is particularly strong, with proficiency rates exceeding 58% in every subject—well above state norms. However, performance drops notably after 4th grade, with 6th-grade math proficiency falling to 36.9% versus the state's 45.1%, suggesting a need to replicate 4th-grade strategies in later grades. The school has steadily improved its state ranking from the 57th to the 60th percentile over two years.
Caddo Academy (grades 7-12) is a standout for its dramatic improvement, surging from 125th to 68th in state rankings (59th to 77th percentile) between 2023-2024 and 2025-2026. While its "All Grades" scores lag slightly behind state averages, grade-level data reveals that 9th and 10th graders excel—especially in 10th-grade ELA (48.6% proficient vs. 37.2% state) and Biology (39.4% vs. 35.1% state). The school also boasts a strong 91.1% graduation rate and a low 2.1% dropout rate. A key paradox is that 7th and 8th-grade scores drag down overall averages, indicating the school is more effective at developing students in upper high school grades. Despite high poverty levels, both schools perform at or above state averages, reflecting the district's effectiveness.
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