Summary:
The Pulaski County Special School District in Arkansas oversees four middle schools serving grades 6-8, with a total enrollment of about 2,300 students across a diverse suburban and rural area. Joe T. Robinson Middle School is the clear standout, ranking in the 87th percentile statewide with proficiency rates in math (51.9%) and ELA (52.0%) that significantly exceed both district and state averages. In contrast, Maumelle Middle School and Mills Middle School rank in the bottom 11th and 10th percentiles respectively, with math proficiency rates below 18%.
One of the most surprising findings is that higher spending does not lead to better results. Mills and Maumelle spend over $15,700 per student—the most in the district—yet have the lowest test scores. Meanwhile, Sylvan Hills Middle School spends the least at $13,331 per student but shows strong improvement, jumping from the 22nd to the 40th percentile over three years. Sylvan Hills also boasts an exceptional Algebra proficiency rate of 84.2%, more than double the state average, suggesting a highly effective advanced math program. Robinson, the top performer, spends a moderate $14,455 per student and has the highest student-to-teacher ratio (12.4), while the lowest-performing schools have smaller class sizes, indicating that factors like teaching quality and school culture matter more than class size alone.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Pulaski County Special School District offers a wide range of middle school experiences. Robinson provides consistently excellent academics, while Sylvan Hills is on a promising upward trajectory with a standout math program. Maumelle and Mills, however, require urgent attention, as their performance has remained critically low despite higher resource allocation. The district overall ranks in the 37th percentile statewide, but these individual school differences highlight the importance of looking beyond district averages when choosing a school.
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