Summary:
The LAKESIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Garland) is a high-performing, mid-sized district in Garland, Arkansas, serving approximately 3,538 students across five schools: two elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.
This district is a true "math powerhouse" in the middle grades, with Lakeside Middle School posting a 71.4% math proficiency rate and Lakeside Junior High School achieving a stunning 90.2% proficiency in advanced Algebra for 8th graders. However, this strength does not carry through to the high school level. Lakeside High School has a critical "Algebra gap," with only 18% of students proficient, a dramatic drop from the junior high's performance. Despite this, the high school excels in other areas, boasting a 94.8% graduation rate and strong scores in Geometry and Biology. The district also shows a clear resource trade-off: Lakeside Primary School spends the most per student ($14,895) but has the largest class sizes (19.1:1 ratio), while the high school invests in smaller classes (10.5:1 ratio) with lower per-student spending ($11,626).
Overall, the district is ranked 18th out of 251 in Arkansas and shows consistent year-over-year improvement across nearly all subjects and schools. For parents, this means your child will likely receive an excellent math education in the middle school years, but you may want to pay close attention to the transition to high school math. The district's strategic spending and strong graduation rates make it a top choice, though the uneven math performance from middle to high school is a key area to watch.
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