Carlisle School District

The Carlisle School District in Arkansas is a small, unified district serving 660 students across two schools: Carlisle Elementary School (Pre-K through 6th grade) and Carlisle High School (7th through 12th grade), with both schools serving a high-poverty population where over 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The district presents a striking contrast between its two schools, particularly in mathematics. Carlisle Elementary School is a standout for its exceptional math performance, achieving a 48.8% proficiency rate in the 2025-2026 school year—above the state average of 44.1% and nearly double its own rate from the previous year. The 6th grade class is especially remarkable, with a 68.5% math proficiency rate that is 23.4 points above the state average. In contrast, Carlisle High School struggles significantly, with an overall math proficiency of just 23.5%, creating a dramatic "math cliff" as students transition from elementary to high school. The high school does have one bright spot: its 10th-grade Biology proficiency rate of 43.1% is 8 points above the state average, making it the only subject where the high school outperforms the state.

Key metrics reveal a paradox: the high school boasts a strong 92% graduation rate and a very low 0.7% dropout rate, yet academic proficiency in core subjects like English Language Arts (25.4%) and Math (23.5%) remains well below state averages. This occurs despite high per-student spending ($17,555 at the high school) and a very low student-teacher ratio of 8:1. The elementary school, with a ratio of 11.8:1 and lower spending ($15,180 per student), outperforms the high school in both ELA (28.1%) and Math (48.8%). Science emerges as the district's relative strength, with both schools performing closer to state averages than in other subjects. The 6th grade class at the elementary school is a notable anomaly, outperforming state averages in both Math and Science, offering a potential blueprint for improvement across the district.