Summary:
The WESTSIDE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT (Craighead) in Jonesboro, Arkansas, contains one high school, Westside High School, which serves grades 8 through 12 with a total enrollment of 647 students and a student-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.
Westside High School has shown a remarkable turnaround, jumping from a 2-star rating (149th out of 291 schools) in 2024-2025 to a 4-star rating (72nd out of 293 schools) in 2025-2026—a leap of 77 places. This improvement is driven by strong year-over-year gains in English Language Arts (+8.6 points), Reading (+9.2 points), and Biology (+7.5 points). The school also boasts a high graduation rate of 93.4%, exceeding both the district (92.6%) and state (90.1%) averages, with a low dropout rate of 1.2%. A standout strength is 9th-grade Reading, where 51.3% of students are proficient—10.7 points above the state average—suggesting a targeted intervention program. However, the school faces challenges in Science, where proficiency declined year-over-year (38.2% to 35.1%), and 8th-grade Science scores (35.1%) lag 7.8 points behind the state average. Additionally, while the graduation rate is high, only 30.7% of students are proficient in Algebra, indicating a potential gap in college readiness.
For parents, Westside High School offers a compelling story of rapid improvement, particularly in reading and English, but with notable weaknesses in science and algebra. The school’s 4-star ranking reflects its strong growth trajectory rather than across-the-board excellence, as it still scores below state averages in several subjects. The high graduation rate paired with low algebra proficiency is a key point to consider when evaluating student preparedness for college or technical careers. Overall, this is a school on the rise, with clear areas of strength and targeted opportunities for further development.
Thank you for your feedback!