Hamburg High School

Hamburg High School is a public high school in the small town of Hamburg, Arkansas, serving 508 students in grades 9-12, with a high level of economic disadvantage (63.58% of students receiving free or reduced lunch).

This school presents a mix of strengths and challenges that set it apart from nearby Crossett High School. On the positive side, Hamburg boasts a strong graduation rate of 93.5% (above the state average of 90.1%) and a very low dropout rate of 0.9%, both better than Crossett’s 90.7% and 1.2%, respectively. Additionally, Hamburg’s 9th graders achieved an impressive 86.7% proficiency in Biology, far exceeding the state average of 72.2%. The school also benefits from a low student-teacher ratio of 11.3:1 and higher spending per student ($13,590) compared to Crossett ($12,031). However, these advantages don’t translate into strong academic outcomes in other areas. Most notably, Algebra proficiency is alarmingly low at just 17.3% (versus the state’s 36.9%), and overall test scores in most subjects fall below state averages. This creates a contradictory picture: a supportive, well-resourced environment that keeps students in school but struggles to drive academic proficiency.

Two interesting findings stand out. First, there’s a sharp drop in Biology performance between 9th grade (86.7% proficient) and 10th grade (23.6% proficient), which may reflect differences in curriculum or student cohorts. Second, the school’s state ranking has declined recently, from the 40th percentile four years ago to the 31st percentile in 2025-2026, suggesting new challenges. For parents, this means Hamburg High School excels at supporting students through graduation but needs significant improvement in math instruction. The Hamburg School District may want to review how its resources are allocated to better boost academic achievement.