Summary:
The Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas district includes six schools in Rogers, AR, serving grades K-12, and presents a dramatic tale of two extremes, with elite elementary schools and struggling alternative and high school programs.
The district's top performers are Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas Bentonville (K-8, 787 students) and Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas Rogers (K-6, 521 students), both earning 5-star ratings and ranking in the 99th and 98th percentiles statewide, respectively. These schools achieve exceptional test scores, often doubling state averages in ELA and Math. In stark contrast, Founders Classical Academies Of Ark West Little Rock Elementary (61 students) ranks in the 65th percentile with alarmingly low proficiency rates (14.3% in core subjects), while Ischool Virtual Academy Of Arkansas (16 students) has a staggering 93.7% dropout rate, signaling a fundamental crisis. The Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas High School Rogers (7-12) shows volatile performance, dropping from the 96th to 85th percentile with a concerning 76.1% graduation rate.
Key metrics reveal a strong correlation between poverty and performance: Bentonville has only 6.99% free/reduced lunch (FRL) students, while West Little Rock Elementary has 47.54% FRL. Spending does not drive success, as Bentonville spends the least ($7,049/student) yet achieves the best results, while West Little Rock High spends the most ($12,392/student) but ranks lowest. A potential "feeder pattern" problem exists, as the high-performing elementary schools feed into a high school with declining metrics, highlighted by a 31.6% 7th-grade math proficiency at Bentonville. This data suggests the Founders Classical model is not universally effective and is heavily influenced by student demographics and local implementation.
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