De Queen School District

The De Queen School District in Arkansas serves approximately 2,365 students across five schools, including two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one alternative school, with a high level of economic disadvantage as over 75% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Dequeen Elementary School (grades 3-5) stands out as the academic powerhouse, consistently exceeding district and state averages in English Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, and Science, with a stable 4-star rating. In contrast, Dequeen Junior High School (grades 8-9) excels in advanced coursework, achieving remarkable 97.2% proficiency in Algebra I and 87.8% in Biology, despite having the lowest per-student spending at $10,122. Dequeen High School (grades 10-12) tells a turnaround story, rebounding from a 2-star rating to a 3-star rating with a 94.3% graduation rate, well above the state average. Dequeen Middle School (grades 6-7) shows a dip in literacy compared to the elementary school, while Dequeen Primary serves the youngest students.

Key metrics reveal the district ranks 64th out of 251 in Arkansas (75th percentile, 4-star rating), with an average student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1. Mathematics is the district's strongest subject, with proficiency rates consistently exceeding state averages across all schools. An interesting dynamic emerges between the two secondary schools: Dequeen Junior High excels in Geometry (60.6%) and Biology (87.8%), while Dequeen High struggles in these same subjects (11.8% and 40.7%, respectively), suggesting potential retention challenges or different student populations. Spending does not correlate with performance, as Dequeen Elementary spends the most ($12,305) and performs well, but Dequeen Junior High spends the least and achieves exceptional results in advanced subjects.