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Rison High School

Q: Is Rison High School a good school?

Rison High School ranks 167 th of 293 Arkansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-12

167^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 293 Arkansas High Schools

Better than 43% of Arkansas high schools

Summary

Rison High School is a small, rural school in Rison, Arkansas, serving 314 students in grades 7-12 as part of the Cleveland County School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the top 37% of districts statewide.

Rison High School stands out as a STEM powerhouse in the area, with exceptional performance in mathematics (51.7% proficiency) and science (58% proficiency) that far exceeds the state averages of 44.1% and 44%, respectively. This is a dramatic advantage over nearby schools like Fordyce High School (22.4% math, 29.5% science) and Watson Chapel High School. The school's geometry program is particularly strong, with 35.7% proficiency compared to just 2.2% at Star City High School and 9.9% at Fordyce. However, the school faces challenges in English Language Arts, where proficiency (34.8%) falls below the state average (39.4%), and in algebra, where only 25.9% of students are proficient versus the state's 36.9%. Despite these gaps, Rison boasts an impressively low dropout rate of just 0.9% and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 9.4:1, creating a supportive environment for personalized learning.

While Rison has a strong history of high performance—ranking in the 83rd percentile just two years ago—its most recent state ranking dropped to the 43rd percentile, a significant decline that parents should monitor. Still, the school outperforms its closest rival, Woodlawn High School (located just 8.45 miles away), in nearly every academic metric for the current year, including math (51.7% vs. 45%) and science (58% vs. 28.8%). With per-student spending of $13,448—comparable to Fordyce but higher than Star City—Rison delivers strong results in STEM and student retention, making it a solid choice for families prioritizing math and science education in a small-school setting.

314

Students ?

9.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,448

Per pupil spending ?

63.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

700 Main Street
Rison, AR 71665

(870) 325-6241

District: Cleveland County School District

Feeder schools for Rison High School:

Elementary:

Rison Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.8%

African American:

23.6%

Asian:

3.5%

See top rated Arkansas high schools

Compare Rison High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2016 → 43rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2016

!Algebra scores 11 pts below the Arkansas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg43%

Arkansas avg41%

Middle school

74^th of 327

Arkansas public middle schools ?

Top 23%▲ up 30 pts since 2016

From bottom 48% (2016) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

167^th of 293

Arkansas public high schools ?

Bottom 43%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 37% (2016) to bottom 43% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

94^th of 251Cleveland County 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	72.5	74 of 327	77.4%	★★★★☆
2025	57.2	126 of 324	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.0	172 of 335	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.1	190 of 330	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	61.6	123 of 318	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.2	175 of 330	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.2	195 of 319	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.8	180 of 318	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	50.8	158 of 315	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	48.1	163 of 312	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	48.1	134 of 275	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	50.1	156 of 280	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	56.2	136 of 278	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	50.4	159 of 265	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.5	137 of 264	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	53.1	138 of 254	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.2	127 of 240	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	38.5	166 of 223	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	57.5	96 of 225	57.3%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	47.0	167 of 293	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.7	82 of 291	71.8%	★★★★☆
2024	73.1	51 of 305	83.3%	★★★★☆
2023	66.2	83 of 295	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	55.1	116 of 282	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.8	108 of 290	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.6	136 of 282	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.8	55 of 263	79.1%	★★★★☆
2017	60.6	93 of 264	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	58.2	99 of 269	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	43.3	134 of 267	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	57.9	95 of 268	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	66.0	61 of 271	77.5%	★★★★☆
2012	70.2	44 of 266	83.5%	★★★★☆
2011	60.3	85 of 266	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	68.4	46 of 262	82.4%	★★★★☆
2009	71.9	32 of 261	87.7%	★★★★☆
2008	81.2	7 of 256	97.3%	★★★★★
2007	63.1	55 of 258	78.7%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Science58%+14 vs state

Mathematics52%+8 vs state

Biology41%~ state avg

Reading38%-3 vs state

Geometry36%+9 vs state

English Language Arts35%-5 vs state

Algebra26%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rison High 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 Algebra (2026)			ATLAS Geometry (2026)			ATLAS Science (2026)			ATLAS Biology (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 7th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 9th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 10th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 7th Grade	ATLAS Reading 8th Grade	ATLAS Reading 9th Grade	ATLAS Reading 10th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 7th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 8th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Algebra 8th Grade	ATLAS Algebra 9th Grade	ATLAS Algebra All Grades	ATLAS Geometry 9th Grade	ATLAS Geometry 10th Grade	ATLAS Geometry All Grades	ATLAS Science 7th Grade	ATLAS Science 8th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	ATLAS Biology 9th Grade	ATLAS Biology 10th Grade	ATLAS Biology All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Rison High School	Public	7-12	700 Main Street	Rison	71665	Cleveland County	Cleveland County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 325-6241	314	33	9.4	63.4%	216 (68.8%)	74 (23.6%)	7 (2.2%)	11 (3.5%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	47	167^th of 293 public high schools	43.0%		62.7	82^nd of 291 public high schools	71.8%	85	41.2	44.9	23.2	31.1	34.8	35.3	42.9	30.3	44.4	37.8	54.9	47.6	51.7		15.2	25.9	70.0	28.9	35.7	53.0	63.3	58.0		38.6	41.3	$13,448	$1,270	$12,178
Woodlawn High School	Public	7-12	6760 Hwy 63	Rison	71665	Cleveland County	Woodlawn School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 357-8171	261	24	10.8	52.1%	240 (92.0%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (4.2%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.3%)	32.3	224^th of 293 public high schools	23.5%		46.1	157^th of 291 public high schools	46.0%	67	33.3	31.8	33.4	17.1	29.1	36.1	38.6	38.9	17.1	33.1	36.1	52.2	45.0		19.0	18.2	42.8	15.8	27.3	22.2	34.1	28.8		26.4	26.4	$12,648	$363	$12,285
Fordyce High School	Public	7-12	Three Redbug Bus Loop	Fordyce	71742	Dallas County	Fordyce School District	No	No	No	No	(870) 352-2126	321	34	9.4	73.8%	110 (34.3%)	192 (59.8%)	14 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	22.8	244^th of 293 public high schools	16.7%		16.9	262^nd of 291 public high schools	10.0%	18	24.2	26.4	21.1	25.5	24.1	24.2	29.0	26.9	31.9	28.3	27.3	16.0	22.4	61.6	4.8	18.1	25.0	6.4	9.9	24.3	34.2	29.5		25.5	23.5	$13,434	$1,423	$12,011
Watson Chapel High School	Public	9-12	4000 Camden Road	Pine Bluff	71603	Jefferson County	Watson Chapel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 879-3230	593	66	8.9	58.5%	33 (5.6%)	531 (89.5%)	17 (2.9%)	7 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	13.1	271^st of 293 public high schools	7.5%		10.5	278^th of 291 public high schools	4.5%	7			16.8	15.4	16.1			19.2	21.4	20.2					4.2	4.2	3.8	3.6	4.2					24.6	23.9	$11,408	$938	$10,470
Star City High School	Public	9-12	400 East Arkansas St	Star City	71667	Lincoln County	Star City School District	No	No	No	No	(866) 446-3647	459	35	12.9		307 (66.9%)	77 (16.8%)	48 (10.5%)	14 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.8%)	35.8	209^th of 293 public high schools	28.7%		52.9	124^th of 291 public high schools	57.4%	85			26.2	33.3	29.9			35.9	36.0	36.0					25.4	25.4		2.2	2.2				36.6	21.2	26.3	$12,564	$461	$12,103

Frequently Asked Questions about Rison High School

What is the racial makeup of Rison High School?

Students at Rison High School are 69% White, 24% African American, 4% Asian, 2% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Rison High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 314 students attended Rison High School.

What district is Rison High School in?

Cleveland County School District

Is Rison High School a good school?

Rison High School ranks 167^th of 293 Arkansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Rison High School?

Rison High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Rison Elementary School

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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.