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Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School

Q: Is Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School a good school?

Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School ranks 338 th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

338^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 31% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School in Palestine, AR, serves 448 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade in a small, rural community where over 99% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a very high-needs population.

This school stands out for a remarkable achievement in 4th-grade Science, where 58.9% of students were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—significantly outperforming the state average of 44.4% and every nearby school, including Wynne Intermediate School (33.8%). This success is an outlier compared to the school's own 3rd-grade (27.8%) and 5th-grade (36.5%) Science scores, suggesting a specific strength at that grade level. Overall, the school performs below state averages in core subjects like English Language Arts and Math, with proficiency rates that tend to decline as students get older—for example, 3rd-grade Math proficiency was 37%, but 5th-grade Math dropped to 25%. However, compared to other high-poverty schools in the region, such as Stewart Elementary School and Central Elementary School in the Forrest City School District, Palestine-Wheatley consistently performs better, with nearly double the English Language Arts proficiency rate (30.7% vs. 15.9%).

The school's state ranking has declined over the past decade, from a high of 155th in 2017-2018 to 338th in 2025-2026, and it spends less per student ($11,676) than similar high-poverty schools like C.B. Partee Elementary School ($15,952) in the Brinkley School District. This suggests the school achieves its results with fewer resources. The data also highlights a clear performance gap between high-poverty districts like the Palestine Wheatley School District and more affluent ones like the Wynne School District, where schools score near state averages. For parents, the standout 4th-grade Science performance and the school's relative strength among its peers are positive signs, but the overall trend of declining proficiency in upper grades is an important consideration.

448

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,676

Per pupil spending ?

99.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7950 Hwy. 70 West
Palestine, AR 72372

(870) 581-2588

District: Palestine Wheatley School District

Students who attend Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Palestine-Wheatley Senior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.5%

African American:

8.3%

Hispanic:

3.1%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 34th percentile in 2016 → 31st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (35% vs 42% meeting standards)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg33%

Arkansas avg42%

338^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 31%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

174^th of 251Palestine Wheatley 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	35.9	338 of 491	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.7	325 of 495	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.4	326 of 497	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.1	291 of 492	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.9	254 of 487	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	66.8	165 of 496	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.8	215 of 488	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.3	155 of 480	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	52.6	234 of 485	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	41.6	326 of 494	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	30.4	353 of 466	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	37.7	351 of 471	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	42.1	331 of 476	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	40.5	347 of 468	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	33.3	366 of 471	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	17.7	402 of 457	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	24.6	366 of 445	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	14.1	396 of 439	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	19.5	382 of 440	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	17.6	349 of 402	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	72.7	92 of 411	77.6%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Science40%-4 vs state

Mathematics35%-9 vs state

Reading34%-6 vs state

English Language Arts31%-9 vs state

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Schools Near Palestine-Wheatley 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
Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	7950 Hwy. 70 West	Palestine	72372	St. Francis County	Palestine Wheatley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 581-2588	448	30	14.9	99.3%	383 (85.5%)	37 (8.3%)	14 (3.1%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	35.9	338^th of 491 public elementary schools	31.2%		37.7	325^th of 495 public elementary schools	34.3%	13	29.6	37.2	30.8	23.3	30.7	37.1	38.4	30.2	28.3	33.9	37.0	38.5	25.0	38.4	35.2	27.8	58.9	36.5	30.0	40.1	$11,676	$1,240	$10,436
Stewart Elementary School	Public	3-5	400 Dawson Rd	Forrest City	72335	St. Francis County	Forrest City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 633-3248	400	22	18.2	100.0%	18 (4.5%)	374 (93.5%)	6 (1.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8.8	470^th of 491 public elementary schools	4.3%		15.4	442^nd of 495 public elementary schools	10.7%	28	16.5	17.5	13.9		15.9	18.3	19.0	17.5		18.3	19.0	28.3	21.9		22.9	18.2	19.2	16.1		17.8	$13,125	$2,821	$10,305
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	801 Deaderick Road	Forrest City	72335	St. Francis County	Forrest City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 633-2141	713	25	28.5	100.0%	20 (2.8%)	689 (96.6%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																					$15,343	$2,160	$13,183
Anna Strong Learning Academy	Public	PK, KG-6	214 South Alabama Street	Marianna	72360	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 295-7140	417	26	16.1	99.8%	10 (2.4%)	379 (90.9%)	17 (4.1%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.2%)	15.9	439^th of 491 public elementary schools	10.6%		18.8	418^th of 495 public elementary schools	15.6%	21	30.1	23.9	27.6	23.9	26.6	25.9	28.2	27.6	23.9	26.5	22.3	15.2	29.8	34.7	25.4	16.7	19.6	14.9	13.0	16.0	$17,098	$5,793	$11,305
C.B. Partee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	200 Tiger Drive	Brinkley	72021	Monroe County	Brinkley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 734-5010	262	21	12.6	100.0%	60 (22.9%)	189 (72.1%)	5 (1.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	29.4	380^th of 491 public elementary schools	22.6%		12.8	454^th of 495 public elementary schools	8.3%	74	30.8	42.8	20.6	34.4	32.2	34.6	50.0	27.6	34.5	36.6	30.7	32.1	37.9	24.1	31.3	26.9	21.4	17.2	31.0	24.1	$15,952	$3,506	$12,446
Wynne Intermediate School	Public	3-5	1300 N. Falls Blvd.	Wynne	72396	Cross County	Wynne School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 238-5060	510	30	16.7	71.6%	319 (62.5%)	163 (32.0%)	13 (2.5%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	49.9	258^th of 491 public elementary schools	47.5%		55.8	225^th of 495 public elementary schools	54.5%	33	52.0	34.7	34.6		40.8	49.2	36.4	37.9		41.4	44.3	49.1	38.7		44.2	47.2	33.8	36.0		39.2	$12,066	$1,414	$10,652
Wynne Primary School	Public	K-2	1300 N. Falls Blvd.	Wynne	72396	Cross County	Wynne School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 238-5050	588	39	15.0	69.6%	362 (61.6%)	194 (33.0%)	14 (2.4%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	12 (2.0%)								(n/a)																					$11,729	$2,235	$9,494

Frequently Asked Questions about Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School

What district is Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School in?

Palestine Wheatley School District

What is the racial makeup of Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School?

Students at Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School are 85% White, 8% African American, 3% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 448 students attended Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School.

Is Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School a good school?

Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School ranks 338^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Palestine-Wheatley Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Palestine-Wheatley Senior High

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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.