Dequeen Junior High School

Dequeen Junior High School in De Queen, AR, serves 348 students in grades 8 and 9 and is part of the De Queen School District, a 4-star district ranked 64th in the state, with over 75% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch.

This school stands out for its exceptional performance in advanced math and science, which is dramatically higher than state averages. For example, 9th graders achieve an 87.8% proficiency rate in Biology—more than double the state average of 42.7%—and 8th graders score a near-perfect 97.2% in Algebra, compared to the state average of 73.9%. In Geometry, the school’s 60.6% proficiency is over 130% higher than the state average. However, this strength is not matched in English Language Arts (ELA) and Reading, where the school’s 8th grade proficiency rates (33% and 35.2%, respectively) fall below state averages. This creates a unique "reverse gap," where the school excels in STEM subjects while struggling with foundational literacy. The school’s classification as an "Alternative" school likely means it serves a specialized population, possibly with a focus on accelerated STEM coursework, which explains the high performance in advanced subjects.

With a low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.4:1 and moderate spending per student ($10,122), the school appears to use its resources effectively for targeted instruction in advanced courses. The low dropout rate of 1.5% is a positive sign, especially given the high poverty level. While there are no nearby schools for direct comparison, Dequeen Junior High School’s data suggests it is a powerhouse in STEM education but needs to address a significant literacy gap to ensure students are well-rounded for future academic challenges.