Summary:
The Vilonia School District in Vilonia, Arkansas, is a top-tier district ranked 6th out of 251 in the state, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade across six public schools, including two elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.
For parents, the standout school is Vilonia Elementary School, which is an academic powerhouse despite having the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (58.72% free/reduced lunch). It consistently ranks in the top 20 elementary schools in Arkansas, with exceptional 2025-2026 test scores of 70.2% proficiency in Mathematics and 73.1% in Science. In contrast, Vilonia Primary School shows significant year-over-year volatility, dropping from 10th to 120th in state ranking before rebounding to 25th. For middle school, Vilonia Middle School excels in STEM, with 83.4% proficiency in Geometry and 84.7% in Algebra for 8th graders. The district also offers a dual high school approach: Vilonia High School is a large, high-performing traditional school with a 93.8% graduation rate, while Vilonia Pathways Academy is a small alternative school with lower test scores but a strong 92.1% graduation rate, serving students who may not thrive in a standard setting.
Key metrics show the district consistently outperforms state averages, with a district-wide English Language Arts proficiency of 55.9% versus the state's 39.4%. Spending per student is relatively consistent across traditional schools, ranging from $9,516 to $11,815, and student-teacher ratios are favorable, from 11.7:1 at Pathways Academy to 18.6:1 at Vilonia Elementary. The most interesting finding is the "Vilonia Elementary Paradox," where the school with the highest poverty rate achieves the highest test scores, defying common trends. Additionally, Frank Mitchell Intermediate School provides a strong foundation for grades 4-6, setting the stage for the STEM surge at Vilonia Middle School.
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