Summary:
The Lincoln School District in Arkansas is a small, unified district serving approximately 1,095 students across three schools: Lincoln Elementary School (PK-3), Lincoln Middle School (4-8), and Lincoln High School (9-12). The district ranks in the 40th percentile statewide with a 2-star rating, and all schools face significant economic challenges, with over 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The standout school is Lincoln Middle School, which ranks in the 55th percentile and delivers exceptional results in advanced math—an impressive 90.9% of 8th graders scored proficient in Algebra, far exceeding the state average of 73.9%. It also leads the district in Science, with 52.8% proficiency versus the state's 44%. In contrast, Lincoln High School struggles significantly, ranking in the bottom 22nd percentile with a 1-star rating. Its proficiency rates in Algebra (7.1%), Geometry (4.2%), and Biology (23.8%) are drastically below state averages, despite a very low student-teacher ratio of 5.9:1 and a strong 92.8% graduation rate. Lincoln Elementary School shows inconsistent performance, swinging from a 1-star to a 3-star rating in recent years, but it is the only school in the district to match the state average in Mathematics (42.1% vs. 44.1%).
A key takeaway is the dramatic drop in academic performance between middle and high school, suggesting a disconnect in curriculum or support. The district also spends significantly more per student than the state average—$15,064 at the elementary and $15,162 at the high school—yet only the middle school, which spends the least ($12,738), achieves strong results. This points to inefficient resource use, particularly at the high school, where low class sizes are not translating into higher test scores. For parents, Lincoln Middle School offers a clear academic advantage, while the high school prioritizes retention and graduation over rigorous academics.
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