Summary:
The Friendship Aspire Academies Arkansas district includes four elementary schools serving 976 students from Kindergarten through 5th grade across Pine Bluff, Little Rock, and North Little Rock, with the district overall ranking in the 35th percentile statewide.
This network presents a story of stark contrasts. The standout is Friendship Aspire Academy Downtown Pine Bluff, which ranks in the 83rd percentile (4 stars) and dramatically outperforms its peers, with 79% of 3rd graders proficient in Math—far exceeding the state average. In contrast, Friendship Academy Little Rock Elementary and Friendship Aspire Academy Hazel St Pine Bluff are struggling, ranking in the 23rd and 27th percentiles respectively. The most dramatic turnaround belongs to Friendship Aspire Academy North Little Rock Elementary, which jumped from the 7th percentile to the 50th percentile in a single year—a remarkable 43-point swing. This school has the smallest enrollment (62 students) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.2:1), which may have enabled targeted interventions despite having the highest poverty rate (90.3%).
Key metrics show Mathematics is a relative strength network-wide, with three of four schools meeting or exceeding state averages, while English Language Arts and Reading remain consistent weaknesses. The network's overall 2-star rating masks the reality that it contains a top-tier 4-star school and a 1-star school. The Hazel St Pine Bluff school, the largest with 469 students and the highest student-teacher ratio (16.2:1), has seen steady decline despite spending $17,582 per student, raising questions about resource allocation. Meanwhile, Downtown Pine Bluff proves that high poverty (79% free/reduced lunch) does not preclude academic excellence, making its practices worth studying for the rest of the network.
Thank you for your feedback!