Elementary Schools in Nettleton School District

The Nettleton School District in Jonesboro, Arkansas, operates six elementary schools, split into three PK-2 early elementary schools and three 3-6 upper elementary schools, creating a unique feeder system where students transition after second grade.

Among the upper elementary schools, Nettleton Steam Intermediate stands out as the district's academic leader, posting the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts (24.4%), Reading (25.2%), and Science (29.8%) for the 2025-2026 school year, and it is the only school to outperform the district average in all four core subjects. Its 6th-grade cohort is particularly strong, with top scores in ELA (32.3%), Reading (33.3%), and Math (31.2%). However, a notable anomaly exists at Fox Meadow School Of Creative Media, where 4th-grade Mathematics proficiency reaches 44.2%—the single highest score for any subject at any grade level across all three upper elementary schools, nearly matching the state average of 47%. This success does not carry over to 5th or 6th grade, where scores drop sharply. Among the PK-2 schools, Nettleton Steam Elementary has the most favorable demographics, with the lowest free/reduced lunch rate at 65.53%, compared to 81.98% at Fox Meadow Elementary and 80.49% at University Heights Elementary School.

The district ranks in the 9th percentile in Arkansas, with proficiency rates significantly below state averages—for example, district Math proficiency (23.8%) is less than half the state average (44.1%). Spending per student ranges from $11,368 at Fox Meadow School Of Creative Media to $14,705 at Nettleton Steam Intermediate, which also has the highest test scores. A troubling trend is the consistent decline in rank for all three upper elementary schools from 2023-2024 to 2025-2026, with Nettleton Steam Intermediate experiencing the sharpest drop from the 27th to the 14th percentile. Despite this, its 5th-grade Science score of 42.6% is remarkably close to the state average of 43.8%, indicating a potential area of instructional excellence.