Summary:
The SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Independence) contains one high school, Southside Charter High School, which serves grades 10 through 12 in Southside, AR, with a total enrollment of 464 students.
Southside Charter High School has shown dramatic swings in its state ranking, moving from a 3-star school in 2023-2024 to a 5-star school in 2024-2025, then settling at a 4-star school ranked 49th out of 293 schools (83rd percentile) for 2025-2026. This volatility may be due to its small student body or changing cohorts. Academically, the school excels in Biology, with 49.2% of students proficient compared to the state average of 42.7%, but struggles in Geometry, where only 24.8% are proficient versus the state's 26.4%. The school's graduation rate is strong at 93.1%, well above the state average of 90.1%, and its dropout rate is extremely low at 0.2%.
One of the school's standout features is its exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 6.4:1, which allows for significant individualized attention and likely contributes to its high graduation rate and low dropout rate. Per-student spending is moderate at $11,485, and 44.83% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a moderate poverty level. As a charter school, Southside Charter High School has operational flexibility, which may help explain its ability to maintain small class sizes and its variable academic performance. For parents, this school offers a supportive environment with strong student support metrics, but the inconsistent academic results, particularly in Geometry, suggest that families should monitor their child's math progress closely.
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