Summary:
The Paragould School District is home to a single high school, Paragould High School, which serves 881 students in grades 9 through 12 and has shown a dramatic turnaround in recent years.
Paragould High School stands out for its rapid improvement, climbing from the 26th percentile (1 star) in 2023-2024 to the 53rd percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026—a remarkable 27-point jump. This is especially impressive given that 100% of its students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, indicating significant economic challenges. The school also boasts a low student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1, which supports individualized attention, and a graduation rate of 90.5%, slightly above the state average. However, overall proficiency in core subjects like English Language Arts (34.9%) and Algebra (24.6%) remains below state averages, with Algebra being a persistent weakness.
A fascinating finding is the "9th Grade Anomaly": 9th graders excel in Geometry (87.1% proficient) and Biology (84.8%), far exceeding state averages, while 10th graders struggle in the same subjects (17% and 30.2%, respectively). This suggests a new, effective program for the current 9th grade class that may not have been available to older students. The school's dropout rate is 2.7%, and per-student spending is $12,908. For parents, Paragould High School offers a story of strong momentum, with targeted interventions in math and science for younger students, though continued focus on Algebra and overall proficiency is needed to sustain its upward trajectory.
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