Emerson Elementary School

Emerson Elementary School is a small, rural K-6 school in Emerson, Arkansas, serving 226 students and consistently ranking among the top 5% of elementary schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating for six consecutive years.

This school stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with proficiency rates roughly 30-35 percentage points higher than the state average in every subject. For example, 87.1% of 4th graders are proficient in mathematics compared to just 47% statewide. Emerson also significantly outperforms its district peer, Taylor Elementary School, by 15-17 percentage points in English Language Arts and Reading, and by 15 points in Mathematics and Science. This is particularly noteworthy given that Emerson serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (51.33% free/reduced lunch) than Taylor (37.83%), suggesting the school's success is driven by effective teaching and strong leadership rather than socioeconomic factors alone.

The school's upward trajectory is remarkable, improving from the 80th percentile to the 98th percentile over six years. With a low student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1 and per-pupil spending of $11,600, Emerson invests resources wisely to support small class sizes and academic excellence. In stark contrast, East Side Elementary School in the nearby Magnolia School District serves a much larger population with a higher student-teacher ratio and has historically ranked in the bottom 25% of the state. Emerson Elementary is a standout model of rural education, consistently delivering top-tier results across all grades and subjects within the Emerson Taylor Bradley School District.