Middle Schools in Rogers School District

The Rogers School District is home to four middle schools—Elmwood, Kirksey, Oakdale, and Lingle—serving grades 6 through 8, and the data reveals a clear hierarchy in academic performance, with Elmwood Middle School standing out as the district's star performer. Elmwood is the only school to earn a 5-star rating, ranking 19th out of 327 schools statewide, and it consistently outperforms district and state averages across all subjects and grade levels. In contrast, Oakdale Middle School struggles significantly, holding a 2-star rating and ranking 204th, with test scores well below the norm. Kirksey and Lingle fall in the middle, with 4-star ratings and similar performance levels, though Lingle shows a strong upward trend in its state ranking over recent years.

Key metrics highlight stark differences among the schools. Elmwood has the largest enrollment at 1,066 students and the lowest percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch at 39.49%, while Oakdale has the highest economic disadvantage rate at 66.38%. Spending per student varies, with Lingle spending the most at $12,015 per student, yet it does not achieve the top academic results, suggesting that financial resources alone do not drive success. Student-teacher ratios also differ, with Elmwood having the highest ratio at 16.6 and Lingle the lowest at 13.5, but again, this does not directly correlate with performance.

One of the most interesting findings is the "Algebra Effect," where every school achieves near-perfect proficiency in Algebra (92.1% to 100%), likely because only top-performing 8th graders take the course, masking overall math proficiency. Additionally, the correlation between economic disadvantage and academic performance is evident, as schools with lower free/reduced lunch percentages tend to rank higher. For parents, this data underscores that Elmwood Middle School offers the strongest academic environment, while Oakdale Middle School may require additional support, and Lingle Middle School is a promising option with improving outcomes.