North Little Rock School District

The North Little Rock School District serves approximately 8,000 students across 13 schools, including 9 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools, in a suburban area of Arkansas where nearly every student faces economic disadvantage.

The district is defined by a stark contrast between a few standout schools and many that struggle significantly. At the elementary level, Crestwood Elementary School and Lakewood Elementary School are clear academic stars, ranking in the top 20% of Arkansas elementary schools with 4-star ratings and test scores nearly double the district average. In contrast, Seventh Street Elementary School and Boone Park Elementary School are the most challenged, ranking in the 0th and 1st percentiles statewide with proficiency rates often in the single digits. At the high school level, North Little Rock Center Of Excellence stands out with a 92.2% graduation rate and strong test scores, while the main North Little Rock High School ranks in the 16th percentile with a 5.7% dropout rate. The district's middle schools, North Little Rock Middle School and North Little Rock Middle School 6th Grade Campus, show overall low math proficiency but successfully accelerate a small group of high-achieving students in advanced courses.

A key takeaway is that higher spending does not predict success—the three lowest-performing elementary schools (Glenview Elementary School, Seventh Street, and Boone Park) have the highest per-student spending, while top performers Crestwood and Lakewood spend significantly less. The district also shows a positive trend of year-over-year improvement, with many schools making notable gains in English Language Arts scores from the 2024-2025 to 2025-2026 school year, suggesting recent interventions may be taking effect despite overall rankings in the 20th percentile statewide.