Summary:
The Nettleton School District in Jonesboro, Arkansas, serves approximately 3,910 students across eight schools, including four elementary schools (Pre-K-2), three intermediate schools (grades 3-6), one junior high (grades 7-8), and one high school (grades 9-12), and faces significant academic challenges, ranking in the 9th percentile statewide.
Among the schools, Nettleton Steam Intermediate stands out as the district's strongest academic performer, with the highest proficiency in Science (29.8%) and Reading (25.2%) among intermediate schools, and it is the only school showing an upward trend in its state ranking. In contrast, Fox Meadow School Of Creative Media is the lowest performer, with the lowest state ranking (10th percentile) and the lowest English Language Arts (20.7%) and Reading (22.6%) scores. A notable anomaly is Nettleton Junior High School, which achieves an extraordinary 87.6% proficiency in Algebra, far exceeding the district average of 23.7%, though its general math proficiency is only 22.5%. Nettleton High School maintains a graduation rate of 91.0%, slightly above the state average, despite low test scores.
Key metrics reveal a district-wide academic crisis, with proficiency in English Language Arts (24.7%), Mathematics (23.8%), and Science (25.9%) all well below state averages. Economic disadvantage is high, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 76.0%. Per-student spending varies from $11,368 at Fox Meadow School of Creative Media to $14,705 at Nettleton Steam Intermediate, but higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes. The STEAM model at Nettleton Steam Elementary and Nettleton Steam Intermediate shows promise, serving populations with the lowest poverty rates (65-67%) and yielding the best results. The district's systemic underperformance requires comprehensive solutions, as even the high graduation rate masks low proficiency levels.
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