Summary:
The Cross County School District is home to a single high school, Cross County High School A New Technical School, which serves grades 7 through 12 with a total enrollment of 315 students in a rural Arkansas area.
As the district's only high school, Cross County High School A New Technical School stands out for its rapid improvement and strong performance despite serving a student population where 100% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The school has shown a dramatic upward trend in its state ranking, jumping from the 53rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 78th percentile (4 stars) for the 2025-2026 school year. This places the school 63rd out of 293 high schools in Arkansas. The district itself is ranked 44th out of 251 districts in the state, placing it in the 82nd percentile. Key metrics include a low student-teacher ratio of 11.1:1, a spending per student of $14,767, a graduation rate of 89.1% (from 2018-2019), and an exceptionally low dropout rate of just 0.3%.
Academically, the school outperforms the state average in core subjects like English Language Arts (43.8% proficient vs. 39.4% state), Reading (45.6% vs. 40.4%), and Mathematics (46.9% vs. 44.1%). However, there is a notable drop in proficiency for advanced math courses, with Algebra at 32.1% and Geometry at 25.0%, both falling below state averages. This "Algebra wall" is a key area for improvement. The school's consistent year-over-year test score growth, combined with its ability to achieve above-average results in a high-poverty setting, makes it a compelling example of effective teaching and school leadership. A current graduation rate would be valuable to confirm that these academic gains are translating into higher completion rates.
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