Summary:
The WESTSIDE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT (Craighead) serves approximately 1,817 students across three schools in Craighead County, Arkansas: Westside Elementary School (PK-4), Westside Middle School (5-7), and Westside High School (8-12), earning a solid 3-star rating overall.
Westside Middle School stands out as the district's academic powerhouse, posting the highest proficiency rates across all core subjects, with a remarkable 71.1% of 5th graders proficient in Mathematics—nearly 27 points above the state average. However, this creates a notable "5th grade spike," as proficiency drops significantly in 6th and 7th grades, suggesting a transition challenge worth investigating. In contrast, Westside High School is the district's most improved school, jumping from a 2-star to a 4-star rating in one year, now ranking in the 75th percentile. It boasts a strong 93.4% graduation rate and excels in Reading (44.1% proficient, above the state average), but lags in Math (38.2%) and Science (35.1%) compared to the district averages. Westside Elementary School provides a stable foundation, consistently earning a 3-star rating with strong Math and Science scores (both 49.3%), though it has the highest student-teacher ratio (18:1) and lowest spending per student ($9,756).
Key metrics show the district has a moderate economic disadvantage rate (54.4% free/reduced lunch) and an average student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1. Interestingly, spending does not directly correlate with performance—the middle school spends the most ($12,100 per student) and achieves the highest scores, while the high school spends less ($10,927) but has the lowest student-teacher ratio (11.4:1) and shows dramatic improvement. The high school's turnaround from a 2-star to a 4-star rating in a single year is the district's most compelling story, suggesting effective changes in instruction or curriculum that parents may want to explore further.
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