Summary:
The Searcy School District in Arkansas is home to two middle schools—Southwest Middle School (serving grades 4-6) and Ahlf Junior High School (serving grades 7-8)—which together serve a community with a 3-star district rating and a state rank in the 69th percentile.
Ahlf Junior High School stands out as the higher-performing school overall, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 46th out of 327 schools in the state (86th percentile) for the 2025-2026 school year. Its most impressive achievement is in Algebra, where 76% of students are proficient—nearly double the district average of 40.3% and far above the state average of 36.9%. Ahlf also consistently outperforms state averages in all core subjects, particularly Science (56.9% proficient vs. 44% statewide). In contrast, Southwest Middle School excels in foundational math, with a 54.3% overall Math proficiency rate that actually surpasses Ahlf’s 48.7%. This suggests the district builds a strong math foundation in earlier grades, which then fuels Ahlf’s advanced Algebra success. Ahlf also benefits from higher per-student spending ($11,050 vs. $10,142) and a lower student-teacher ratio (16.1 vs. 18.4), correlating with its stronger ranking.
Both schools show positive year-over-year growth, with Ahlf’s ELA proficiency rising from 41% to 44.8% and Science from 52.9% to 56.9% between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. The free/reduced lunch rates are similar (52.46% at Southwest, 49.48% at Ahlf), indicating comparable socioeconomic backgrounds, so performance differences likely stem from curriculum and resource allocation rather than demographics. For parents, this means Ahlf Junior High School offers a standout advanced math program and strong overall academics, while Southwest Middle School provides excellent foundational skills that prepare students for that success.
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