Summary:
The Cedarville School District in Arkansas is a small, unified district serving 731 students across three schools: Cedarville Elementary School (grades K-4), Cedarville Middle School (grades 5-8), and Cedarville High School (grades 9-12), all serving a student body with over 98% economic disadvantage.
Cedarville High School is the district's clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 84th percentile statewide—a dramatic rise from the 46th percentile just two years prior. It outperforms state averages in Reading, Algebra, Geometry, and especially Biology (62% vs. 42.7%), and boasts a 91.5% graduation rate. In contrast, Cedarville Elementary School is the most challenged, holding a 1-star rating and ranking in the 24th percentile, consistently underperforming state averages across all subjects, with its largest gap in Mathematics (27.4% vs. 44.1%). Cedarville Middle School is a mixed performer: it excels in Math and Science, but struggles significantly with literacy, particularly in 8th grade where only 20.4% are proficient in ELA and 24.5% in Reading—far below state averages.
A key finding is the spending disparity: the High School spends $16,413 per student with a 10.1:1 student-teacher ratio, while the Elementary School spends only $13,467 with a 15.8:1 ratio. This suggests the district may be prioritizing resources for older students, potentially at the expense of early intervention. The High School's success despite serving the same high-poverty population raises questions about why its effective strategies aren't replicated at lower grades. Meanwhile, the Elementary School's state rank has declined for three consecutive years, and the Middle School's rank has also slipped, indicating that the district's overall improvement is driven almost entirely by the High School while foundational schools stagnate.
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