Bearden High School

Bearden High School is a small, rural public school in Bearden, Arkansas, serving 227 students in grades 7 through 12, and is part of the Bearden School District. The school stands out for its exceptionally low student-to-teacher ratio of 4.8:1, which is the lowest among nearby schools like Camden Fairview High School (9.2:1) and Fordyce High School (9.4:1), meaning your child is likely to receive a great deal of individualized attention in small classes. Despite serving a student body where nearly all (98.68%) qualify for free or reduced lunch—a rate far higher than Harmony Grove High School (38.56%)—the school achieves a strong graduation rate of 92.8%, which exceeds the state average and is notably higher than Harmony Grove's 85.7%.

Academically, Bearden shows a mixed picture with some encouraging trends. While overall test scores lag behind the state average, the school has shown improvement from the 2023-2024 school year to the 2025-2026 school year, with Mathematics proficiency rising from 10.8% to 36.1% and English Language Arts from 17.2% to 23.1%. However, a persistent and concerning issue is that 0% of students have scored proficient in Geometry for two consecutive years, a red flag that suggests a need for targeted support in this subject. In comparison to nearby schools, Bearden outperforms Camden Fairview High School in most subjects but consistently trails Harmony Grove High School, which serves a more affluent population and ranks in the top 27% of Arkansas high schools.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Bearden High School offers a supportive environment with very small classes and a strong commitment to keeping students on track to graduate, even as it faces significant economic challenges. The school's graduation rate is a testament to its focus on student retention, and recent academic improvements suggest that interventions may be working. However, the persistent struggles in Geometry and overall lower test scores compared to the state average mean that you may want to inquire about specific academic support programs, especially in math and science, to ensure your child gets the help they need to succeed.