Summary:
The four middle schools in Springdale, Arkansas—Hellstern Middle School, Helen Tyson Middle School, Sonora Middle School, and J. O. Kelly Middle School—serve grades 6 and 7 within the Springdale School District, which is ranked in the 45th percentile statewide.
Hellstern Middle School is the standout performer, earning a 5-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the top 10% of Arkansas middle schools (93rd percentile). It significantly outperforms the other three schools in every subject: for example, 60.5% of its students are proficient in math compared to just 25.2% at J. O. Kelly Middle School, the lowest-ranked school in the district (15th percentile). Helen Tyson Middle School and Sonora Middle School fall in between, ranking in the 37th and 21st percentiles respectively, with proficiency rates below state averages. A notable anomaly is at Helen Tyson, where 7th graders score much higher in math (50.2%) than 6th graders (27.8%), suggesting a strong grade-level program.
An interesting finding is that Hellstern spends the least per student ($12,076) yet achieves the best results, while the lower-performing schools spend more—up to $14,804 at Sonora. This indicates that additional funding is directed toward supporting higher-needs student populations rather than directly boosting test scores. Overall, while Hellstern demonstrates sustained excellence, the majority of the district’s middle schools face significant challenges, with three out of four schools performing well below state averages.
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