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Riverside East Elementary School

Q: Is Riverside East Elementary School a good school?

Riverside East Elementary School ranks 346 th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

346^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 30% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Riverside East Elementary School in Caraway, AR, is a small, rural school serving 147 students in grades PK through 6 as part of the Riverside School District.

This school has experienced a significant and concerning academic decline over the past six years, dropping from a 78th percentile state ranking to the 30th percentile. What makes this particularly puzzling is that the school spends a very high amount per student ($14,355) and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 13:1, yet these resources are not translating into strong results. In fact, the school's spending is much higher than nearby high-performing schools like Brookland Elementary School ($10,618) and Buffalo Island Central Elementary School ($12,701). The situation is even more striking when compared to its district counterpart, Riverside West Elementary School, which is only 7 miles away but consistently outperforms Riverside East in nearly every subject, pointing to a school-level issue rather than a district-wide problem.

There are a few bright spots and important nuances. The 5th grade class is a clear outlier, scoring above district and state averages in English Language Arts, suggesting that something is working well at that grade level. Additionally, the school's Science scores are more competitive, with 6th graders even outperforming the state average. While the school serves a high-poverty population (73-77% free/reduced lunch), other nearby schools with similar or even higher poverty rates, such as Rivercrest Elementary School, achieve better academic results. This indicates that poverty is not an insurmountable barrier, and Riverside East has significant room for improvement by learning from its own successful 5th grade and replicating effective practices across all grades.

147

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,355

Per pupil spending ?

73.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

502 West State Street
Caraway, AR 72419

(870) 482-3351

District: Riverside School District

Students who attend Riverside East Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Riverside High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.2%

Hispanic:

3.4%

African American:

2.0%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

Compare Riverside East Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 57th percentile in 2016 → 30th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (30% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 27 percentile points since 2016

!Mathematics scores 16 pts below the Arkansas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg40%

Arkansas avg42%

346^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 27 pts since 2016

From top 43% (2016) to bottom 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the Riverside School District

125^th of 251Riverside School District among Arkansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	33.9	346 of 491	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	46.9	278 of 495	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.9	316 of 497	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.8	249 of 492	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.5	285 of 487	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.5	274 of 496	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	73.9	109 of 488	77.7%	★★★★☆
2018	64.5	175 of 480	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.9	151 of 485	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	55.9	213 of 494	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	36.4	313 of 466	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	32.8	372 of 471	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	43.4	321 of 476	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	37.9	357 of 468	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	45.2	317 of 471	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	39.9	335 of 457	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	48.2	274 of 445	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	42.7	303 of 439	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.0	279 of 440	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.1	210 of 402	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.3	246 of 411	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Science35%-9 vs state

Reading30%-11 vs state

English Language Arts28%-12 vs state

Mathematics28%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Riverside East Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2026)					ATLAS Reading (2026)					ATLAS Mathematics (2026)					ATLAS Science (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading 6th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 6th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science 6th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Riverside East Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	502 West State Street	Caraway	72419	Craighead County	Riverside School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 482-3351	147	11	13.0	73.5%	137 (93.2%)	3 (2.0%)	5 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	33.9	346^th of 491 public elementary schools	29.5%		46.9	278^th of 495 public elementary schools	43.8%	68	7.7	10.6	50.0	38.9	27.9	7.7	15.8	44.4	44.4	29.5	23.1	10.5	33.4	44.4	27.9	38.5	21.1	38.9	44.5	35.3	$14,355	$3,260	$11,095
Riverside West Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2001 Highway 18	Lake City	72437	Craighead County	Riverside School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 237-8222	300	22	13.8	55.0%	271 (90.3%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.0%)	54	234^th of 491 public elementary schools	52.3%		69.7	142^nd of 495 public elementary schools	71.3%	92	54.5	64.5	33.3	41.3	49.7	36.3	57.8	30.7	37.9	41.4	45.4	26.7	10.2	24.1	27.4	61.4	64.4	38.5	43.3	53.2	$10,182	$1,269	$8,913
Lepanto Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	819 N School St	Lepanto	72354	Poinsett County	East Poinsett County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 475-2632	175	12	14.1	73.7%	133 (76.0%)	14 (8.0%)	11 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (9.7%)								(n/a)																					$16,218	$2,661	$13,558
Trumann Elementary School	Public	K-3	401 N Willow	Trumann	72472	Poinsett County	Trumann School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 483-5314	477	29	16.6	100.0%	327 (68.6%)	60 (12.6%)	36 (7.5%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (10.5%)	19	425^th of 491 public elementary schools	13.4%		17.1	432^nd of 495 public elementary schools	12.7%	7	29.3				27.9	31.1				29.5	19.8				18.8	28.3				27.0	$11,184	$1,691	$9,493
Bay Elementary School	Public	K-6	700 School Street	Bay	72411	Craighead County	Bay School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 781-3300	317	23	13.7	60.6%	301 (95.0%)	10 (3.2%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	43.5	289^th of 491 public elementary schools	41.1%		44.6	288^th of 495 public elementary schools	41.8%	1	39.5	18.9	33.3	47.1	34.4	44.2	24.6	35.7	49.0	38.1	27.9	30.2	50.0	45.1	38.0	34.9	24.6	52.4	47.0	39.2	$11,900	$1,162	$10,738
Buffalo Island Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1208 Nelson	Leachville	72438	Mississippi County	Buffalo Island Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 486-5411	404	29	13.9	67.1%	331 (81.9%)	5 (1.2%)	59 (14.6%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	66.3	161^st of 491 public elementary schools	67.2%		70	140^th of 495 public elementary schools	71.7%	21	57.2	39.6	42.3	57.7	49.5	55.4	37.5	40.4	52.0	46.6	67.8	35.4	44.2	76.9	56.7	55.4	48.0	36.5	40.4	45.2	$12,701	$1,720	$10,981
Manila Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	419 E Olympia Street	Manila	72442	Mississippi County	Manila School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 561-3145	601	35	17.0	50.7%	556 (92.5%)	6 (1.0%)	20 (3.3%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.3%)	60.4	195^th of 491 public elementary schools	60.3%		70.9	135^th of 495 public elementary schools	72.7%	60	54.1	46.2	52.5	39.4	48.1	57.4	37.0	48.8	36.6	44.8	37.7	30.8	32.9	47.9	37.3	59.0	56.9	56.1	36.6	51.9	$11,488	$1,013	$10,475
Marked Tree Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	703 Normandy	Marked Tree	72365	Poinsett County	Marked Tree School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 358-2214	309	19	16.5	73.8%	149 (48.2%)	117 (37.9%)	16 (5.2%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.1%)	20.5	416^th of 491 public elementary schools	15.3%		16.3	435^th of 495 public elementary schools	12.1%	19	27.5	10.8	22.5	25.0	21.0	27.6	10.8	25.0	31.3	23.2	46.4	24.3	35.0	42.4	36.2	27.5	21.6	17.5	30.3	23.7	$14,754	$4,474	$10,280
Brookland Primary School	Public	PK-K	100 W School	Brookland	72417	Craighead County	Brookland School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(870) 932-2080	384	29	13.2	40.4%	336 (87.5%)	13 (3.4%)	18 (4.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (3.6%)								(n/a)
Rivercrest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1704 West State Highway 14	Wilson	72395	Mississippi County	Rivercrest School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 655-8621	675	36	18.7	100.0%	389 (57.6%)	165 (24.4%)	64 (9.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (8.1%)	37.9	327^th of 491 public elementary schools	33.4%		47.7	274^th of 495 public elementary schools	44.6%	53	19.0	48.2	33.0	32.9	33.4	16.3	49.3	35.1	34.2	34.1	32.4	62.0	34.1	36.6	41.0	25.7	50.7	25.5	28.1	32.3	$12,306	$1,193	$11,113

Frequently Asked Questions about Riverside East Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Riverside East Elementary School?

Students at Riverside East Elementary School are 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% African American.

How many students attend Riverside East Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 147 students attended Riverside East Elementary School.

What district is Riverside East Elementary School in?

Riverside School District

Is Riverside East Elementary School a good school?

Riverside East Elementary School ranks 346^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Riverside East Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Riverside East Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Riverside High School

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Latest Arkansas data All new data »

2025–26 ATLAS test scoresJul 13, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2019–20 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 dropout ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.