Summary:
The city of Tuckerman, Arkansas, is served by three public schools within the highly-rated Jackson County School District, which ranks in the top 5% of all districts in the state. The schools include Tuckerman Elementary School (PK-4), Swifton Middle School (5-7), and Tuckerman High School (8-12), serving a combined 945 students. Despite a high average free/reduced lunch rate of 72.3%, the district consistently outperforms state averages, with Tuckerman High School as the standout, ranking 11th out of 293 high schools in Arkansas (96th percentile) and earning a 5-star rating for three consecutive years.
Tuckerman High School is a powerhouse, with 86.2% of students proficient in Math (nearly double the state average of 44.1%) and a 94.5% graduation rate. Its secret weapon is an incredibly low student-teacher ratio of 4.9:1, offering exceptional individualized attention. Tuckerman Elementary School is also a standout for its dramatic improvement, jumping from the 44th to the 88th percentile in state rankings, and it leads the district in Science proficiency at 63.5%. In contrast, Swifton Middle School is the weakest link, ranking lower (71st percentile) and being the only school to score below the state average in Science (43.9% vs. 44.0%), with a notable dip in 6th-grade performance.
Key takeaways include that Math is a district-wide superpower, with all schools far exceeding state averages. The district's success is particularly impressive given the high poverty levels, defying common trends. Interestingly, spending per student is not the primary driver of success, as Tuckerman Elementary spends the most ($14,390) but does not achieve the highest scores, while the high school achieves top results with lower spending. Overall, the Jackson County School District offers a strong educational foundation, with the high school and elementary school providing exceptional opportunities for students.
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