Alma School District

The Alma School District in Arkansas serves approximately 3,092 students across four schools—a Primary School (PK-2), an Intermediate School (3-5), a Middle School (6-8), and a High School (9-12)—and holds a strong 4-star rating, ranking in the 88th percentile of all Arkansas districts.

Alma Middle School stands out as the district's academic powerhouse, achieving a remarkable 91% proficiency in 8th-grade Algebra—nearly 20 points above the state average—and outperforming state averages in every subject. Alma High School is a consistent performer, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 91st percentile, with a 91% graduation rate and an exceptionally low 0.1% dropout rate. Alma Intermediate School is the district's turnaround story, jumping from the 45th to the 61st percentile in just two years, driven by math proficiency (54%) that is nearly 10 points above the state average. Alma Primary School serves the youngest students with the highest economic disadvantage rate (50.71%) but lays a strong foundation for the district's math pipeline.

A key district strength is a cohesive math pipeline: 3rd graders at the Intermediate School hit 58.9% proficiency, 8th graders at the Middle School achieve 91% in Algebra, and High School students maintain strong scores in Algebra and Geometry. However, English Language Arts (ELA) and Reading are challenges, particularly at the Intermediate School, where 4th and 5th graders score below state averages, though the Middle School effectively recovers this performance. A notable resource disparity exists: the High School spends the most per student ($12,932) with the smallest class sizes (8.1:1), while the Intermediate School spends the least ($10,089) with the largest class sizes (19.2:1), creating an "inverse need" paradox where younger, more economically disadvantaged students receive fewer resources.