Summary:
The Lisa Academy district in Arkansas operates three high schools serving grades 9-12, ranging from a large urban campus to a very small rural school, and offers a clear picture of how different factors can shape student outcomes.
Lisa Academy North High School is the district's standout performer, consistently earning top state rankings (32nd out of 293 schools, a 4-star rating) and leading in English and math proficiency. It boasts a strong 90.7% graduation rate and a very low 0.6% dropout rate. In contrast, Lisa Academy West High School, despite having the highest per-student spending ($12,595) and a larger enrollment, struggles academically with only 6.4% proficiency in Algebra and a declining 2-star rating. Lisa Academy Rogers-Bentonville High School is a unique case with just 12 students; its high initial ranking (36th) is based on limited data, making it difficult to compare directly to the larger schools.
A key takeaway is the spending-versus-performance paradox: West spends over $2,000 more per student than North, yet North achieves far better results, suggesting that factors like teaching quality and school culture matter more than budget alone. The most dramatic gap is in math, where North's Geometry proficiency (34.3%) is more than triple West's (10.7%). Additionally, grade-level data at North shows 9th graders vastly outperforming 10th graders in Biology and Geometry, hinting at possible curriculum changes or cohort differences. For parents, this data highlights that Lisa Academy North offers the strongest academic track record, while Lisa Academy West faces significant challenges that warrant closer investigation.
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