Summary:
The Dover School District is home to a single middle school, Dover Middle School, which serves 375 students in grades 5 through 8 in a rural Arkansas community where nearly two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Dover Middle School stands out for its exceptional performance in Algebra, where 85.7% of students scored proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—more than double the state average of 36.9%. This suggests a highly effective advanced math program, though it contrasts sharply with the school's overall mathematics proficiency of 42.8%, indicating that Algebra is likely taken by a select group of high-achieving students. The school consistently outperforms the state average in most subjects and grade levels, including strong showings in 7th and 8th grade across all tested areas. However, 6th grade is a notable weakness, with students scoring below the state average in every subject, including English Language Arts (36% vs. 40.8%) and Math (39.3% vs. 45.1%).
Despite stable or slightly improved test scores from the previous year, the school's state ranking dropped from the 80th percentile (4 stars) to the 63rd percentile (3 stars), meaning other Arkansas schools improved at a faster rate. With a student-teacher ratio of 13.7:1 and per-student spending of $12,228, the school appears to use its resources effectively to support learning, achieving above-state-average results in most areas despite socioeconomic challenges. Parents should note that while the school excels in advanced math and upper-grade performance, targeted support may be needed for 6th graders to ensure consistent growth across all grade levels.
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