Summary:
The Lee County School District in Marianna, Arkansas, contains a single elementary school, Anna Strong Learning Academy, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through 6th grade with a total enrollment of 417 students. This school operates in a high-poverty area, with nearly all students (99.76%) qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it consistently ranks in the bottom 11-16% of Arkansas elementary schools over the past three years, placing it at the 11th percentile statewide for the 2025-2026 school year.
Academically, Anna Strong Learning Academy trails state averages significantly across all subjects. In 2025-2026, proficiency rates were 26.6% in English Language Arts (state: 39.4%), 26.5% in Reading (state: 40.4%), 25.4% in Mathematics (state: 44.1%), and a critical low of 16.0% in Science (state: 44.0%). The most notable positive trend is a 9-percentage-point improvement in Mathematics from the previous year, though performance varies widely by grade—for example, 6th graders achieved 34.7% proficiency in math while 4th graders reached only 15.2%. The school spends $17,098 per student, a high amount that likely reflects the cost of addressing student needs beyond academics, yet results remain low, indicating significant challenges tied to poverty.
Key takeaways for parents include the school’s severe science gap—28 points below the state average—and inconsistent grade-level performance that suggests targeted interventions are needed. As the district’s only elementary school, its test scores define the entire district’s performance. While the school shows some progress in math, overall proficiency remains well below state benchmarks, and the near-universal poverty rate is a powerful factor shaping educational outcomes. Parents should consider these metrics alongside the school’s efforts to support a high-needs student population.
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