Newport Junior High School

Newport Junior High School in Newport, AR, is a small school serving 154 students in grades 6 and 7, with a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 8.9:1 and a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch (31.17%).

Despite these advantages, the school significantly underperforms compared to state averages and nearby schools. For example, overall math proficiency is 33.5%, well below the state average of 44.1%, and 7th-grade math is particularly concerning at 28.4%. In English Language Arts, the school scores 36.2% versus the state average of 44.1%, while science proficiency is 32% compared to 43.9% statewide. A stark contrast emerges when comparing to Swifton Middle School, located 17.5 miles away in the Jackson County School District. Swifton serves a much more economically disadvantaged population (74.07% free/reduced lunch) yet achieves far higher results: 67.7% math proficiency, 50.3% in English, and 43.9% in science. This suggests Newport’s challenges are not tied to poverty or class size but likely stem from instructional quality, curriculum, or district-level issues.

The Newport School District ranks in the bottom 20% of Arkansas districts (1-star rating), while Jackson County ranks in the top 5% (5 stars). Newport Junior High itself holds a 2-star rating, ranking in the 34th percentile among Arkansas middle schools. A relative bright spot is 6th-grade reading, which at 38.7% is only 3 points below the state average, indicating literacy instruction may be a strength compared to STEM subjects. Overall, the data points to a need for systemic improvement, particularly in math, to better serve students.