Best Public Schools in Pangburn, AR

The city of Pangburn, Arkansas, is served by the Pangburn School District, which includes two public schools: Pangburn Elementary School (grades K-6) and Pangburn High School (grades 7-12). The district is small, with 401 elementary students and 326 high school students, and a significant portion of the student body is economically disadvantaged, with free/reduced lunch rates of 64.84% at the elementary and 56.44% at the high school. The district earns a 4-star rating and ranks 74th out of 251 districts in Arkansas.

Pangburn Elementary School is the clear academic standout, consistently outperforming both district and state averages in English Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, and Science. It holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 73rd percentile (133 out of 491) statewide, showing improvement from a 3-star rating in 2023-2024. In contrast, Pangburn High School presents a mixed profile: it boasts a high graduation rate of 94.8% and a very low dropout rate of 0.3%, but its academic performance is less consistent. The high school struggles in advanced math subjects like Algebra and Geometry, where it falls below state averages, and its state ranking has been volatile, dropping from the 83rd percentile (4 stars) in 2024-2025 to the 65th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026.

A key paradox is that the high school has an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.8:1 and higher per-student spending ($13,093) than the elementary school ($12,688), yet its academic results are weaker. This suggests challenges beyond resources, possibly related to curriculum or student engagement. Additionally, the high school's performance is dragged down by its 7th and 8th-grade students, who scored below state averages in English Language Arts and Reading, while 9th and 10th graders generally perform at or above state averages. The elementary school excels in foundational math, but students struggle to transition to higher-level coursework in high school, creating a clear divide in math performance across the district.