Summary:
The Hermitage School District in Arkansas contains a single elementary school, Hermitage Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 6 with a total enrollment of 217 students.
Hermitage Elementary School is a school facing significant challenges, most notably a steep and accelerating decline in its state ranking over the past three years. The school dropped from the 45th percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 16th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026, placing it in the bottom quintile of Arkansas schools. This decline is reflected in its 2025-2026 test scores, which are well below state averages across all subjects: English Language Arts (24.3% vs. 39.4%), Reading (29.7% vs. 40.4%), Mathematics (22.5% vs. 44.1%), and Science (22.5% vs. 44.0%). The school serves a student population with very high economic need, as 100% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Despite this, the district invests heavily, with per-student spending of $17,531 and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1, creating a paradox where high investment has not yet translated into improved academic outcomes.
Despite the overall low performance, there is a notable bright spot in the 6th grade. In Mathematics, 6th graders achieved a 43.4% proficiency rate, nearly matching the state average of 45.1%, and they also posted the school's highest scores in Reading (33.3%) and Science (30%). This success stands in stark contrast to the critical weakness in the early grades, particularly 3rd grade, where proficiency rates are alarmingly low across all subjects (e.g., Math at 11.1% and ELA at 7.4%). This suggests that while the school struggles overall, the 6th-grade program or cohort may offer a model for improvement that could be replicated in lower grades to address the foundational skill gaps that are holding students back.
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