Summary:
The Emerson Taylor Bradley School District is a small, rural Arkansas district serving 1,280 students across six schools—three elementary schools (K-6) and three high schools (7-12)—and is ranked 46th out of 251 districts in the state, earning a 4-star rating.
This district is a study in contrasts, containing both standout performers and schools in need of support. Emerson Elementary School is the district's star, ranking 12th out of 491 elementary schools in Arkansas (98th percentile) with a 5-star rating for three consecutive years, achieving 76% proficiency in Mathematics and 68.2% in English Language Arts—far exceeding state averages. Taylor High School is the top-ranked high school, ranking 16th out of 293 (95th percentile) with a 92.1% graduation rate and strong Science scores. Meanwhile, Emerson High School has shown dramatic improvement, jumping from the 80th to the 96th percentile in one year, with notable gains in Mathematics and Biology. On the other end, Bradley Elementary School is the lowest-performing school, ranking in the 25th percentile with only 28% proficiency in Mathematics and 32% in Reading, while Bradley High School also struggles with a 3-star rating and below-average scores.
Key metrics reveal a district with significant internal variation. The average free/reduced lunch rate is 52.7%, but ranges from 32.58% at Taylor High to 75.9% at Bradley Elementary, highlighting a strong link between poverty and performance. Per-student spending varies widely from $9,911 at Taylor Elementary School to $13,948 at Bradley High, yet higher spending does not guarantee better results—Bradley High spends the most but is not the top performer. The district excels in Science (55.8% average proficiency) but struggles with Geometry (35.3%). The "Emerson Advantage" is notable, as both Emerson schools are high-performing, suggesting effective local leadership. For parents, this district offers excellent options in Emerson and Taylor, but the Bradley schools require targeted intervention to improve outcomes.
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