Woodlawn School District

The Woodlawn School District is a small, rural district in Rison, Arkansas, serving 550 students across just two schools: Woodlawn Elementary School (grades K-6) and Woodlawn High School (grades 7-12). The district ranks in the 48th percentile statewide, but this average masks a dramatic split in performance between its two schools.

Woodlawn Elementary School is the district's standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 79th percentile for the 2025-2026 school year. Its students significantly outperform state averages, with 63.6% proficient in Math and 56.6% in Science, compared to state averages of 44.1% and 44.0%. In contrast, Woodlawn High School is struggling, ranking in the 24th percentile with a 1-star rating. Only 29.1% of high school students are proficient in English Language Arts, and proficiency in Algebra is just 18.2%. This creates a "6th grade cliff," where students who excel in elementary school often see a sharp drop in performance upon entering high school.

A key paradox is that the high school spends $2,355 more per student and has a smaller student-teacher ratio than the elementary school, yet its academic outcomes are far worse. This suggests the issue is not funding, but likely curriculum or instructional quality. Despite these struggles, the high school maintains a strong 94% graduation rate and a very low 0.3% dropout rate, indicating it is effective at keeping students enrolled. For parents, this district offers an excellent elementary education but a high school that requires significant improvement, making the transition between schools a critical point of concern.