Bradford Elementary School

Bradford Elementary School in Bradford, AR, is a small, rural school serving 249 students in grades PK through 6, where every student comes from a low-income household (100% free/reduced lunch rate). This school has historically faced significant challenges, but recent data shows a remarkable turnaround: after hitting a low point in the 2023-2024 school year, it has improved dramatically, jumping from the 8th percentile to the 28th percentile in state rankings by 2025-2026. This rapid progress suggests that new strategies or interventions are making a real difference for students.

One of the school's biggest strengths is its early-grade science instruction. In 3rd grade, 55.5% of students are proficient in science—a full 10 percentage points above the state average. However, math remains a critical weakness, with only 22.9% of all students proficient, compared to the state average of 44.1%. This is the lowest math proficiency rate among nearby schools, except for Augusta Elementary School, which has a similar poverty level. Another concern is a sharp drop in performance for 6th graders, where proficiency in reading and science falls by over 30 points compared to 4th grade. This "6th grade cliff" may indicate a need for better preparation for middle school content.

Compared to other high-poverty schools in the area, Bradford stands out for its smaller class sizes, with a student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1—lower than Kensett Elementary (15.1:1) and Judsonia Elementary (15.4:1). While the Bradford School District spends a moderate amount per student ($12,211), it outperforms Augusta Elementary in nearly every subject, despite both having 100% poverty rates. For example, Bradford's overall English Language Arts proficiency (30.3%) is nearly double Augusta's (16.7%). This shows that the school's recent improvements are yielding better results than peers facing the same economic hurdles, making it a school to watch for continued growth.