Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Decatur Middle School

Public Grades 5-8

271^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 327 Arkansas Middle Schools

Better than 17% of Arkansas middle schools

Summary

Decatur Middle School is a small, rural school in the Decatur School District serving 162 students in grades 5 through 8, and it faces significant challenges with a 100% free and reduced lunch rate, indicating a high level of economic need among its families.

Academically, Decatur Middle School has historically ranked in the bottom 20% of Arkansas middle schools, with proficiency rates well below those of nearby schools. For example, in the 2025-2026 school year, math proficiency was 25.4%, compared to 86.3% at Bright Field Middle School in the Bentonville School District and 54.2% at Gravette Middle School in the Gravette School District. The school also lacks advanced coursework options like Algebra I, which are available at many surrounding schools. However, there are signs of improvement: proficiency in English Language Arts has risen from 17.7% to 25.3% and math from 12% to 25.4% over the past two years. Notably, 8th graders at Decatur are a bright spot, achieving science proficiency rates close to the state average, suggesting effective instruction at that grade level.

Despite spending $12,388 per student—more than several high-performing Bentonville schools—and maintaining a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6:1, these resources have not yet closed the achievement gap. The contrast with nearby districts is stark: a student just a few miles away in Bentonville attends a 5-star school with 80%+ proficiency, while Decatur remains a 1-star school. This highlights how district boundaries and local economic conditions can profoundly shape educational opportunities, even within a small geographic area.

162

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,388

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1498 Stadium Ave.
Decatur, AR 72722

(479) 321-5780

District: Decatur School District

Students who attend Decatur Middle School usually attend:

High:

Decatur High School

Feeder schools for Decatur Middle School:

Elementary:

Decatur Northside Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

43.2%

White:

42.0%

Pacific Islander:

4.9%

See top rated Arkansas middle schools

Compare Decatur Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 36th percentile in 2021 → 17th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (27% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (17th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped from its 36th-percentile peak (2021) to 17th (2026)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school27%

District avg32%

Arkansas avg42%

271^st of 327

Arkansas public middle schools ?

Bottom 17%▲ up 6 pts since 2017

From bottom 11% (2017) to bottom 17% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

163^rd of 251Decatur 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	22.2	271 of 327	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.1	283 of 324	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.2	280 of 335	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.6	239 of 330	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.6	236 of 318	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	41.3	212 of 330	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	16.3	285 of 319	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.1	295 of 318	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	16.7	280 of 315	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Science29%-15 vs state

Reading27%-13 vs state

Mathematics25%-19 vs state

English Language Arts25%-14 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Decatur Middle School and help other families decide.

Rate Decatur Middle School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Decatur Middle School

Load more schools when map is moved

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)					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 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading 6th Grade	ATLAS Reading 7th Grade	ATLAS Reading 8th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 6th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 7th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 8th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Algebra 7th Grade	ATLAS Algebra 8th Grade	ATLAS Algebra All Grades	ATLAS Geometry 8th Grade	ATLAS Geometry All Grades	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science 6th Grade	ATLAS Science 7th Grade	ATLAS Science 8th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Decatur Middle School	Public	5-8	1498 Stadium Ave.	Decatur	72722	Benton County	Decatur School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 321-5780	162	14	11.6	100.0%	68 (42.0%)	3 (1.9%)	70 (43.2%)	5 (3.1%)	7 (4.3%)	8 (4.9%)	1 (0.6%)	22.2	271^st of 327 public middle schools	17.1%		17.1	283^rd of 324 public middle schools	12.7%	12	26.3	25.0	23.5	26.7	25.3	26.3	29.5	20.5	33.3	27.3	34.2	22.2	23.5	20.7	25.4						29.0	28.9	20.6	38.7	29.1	$12,388	$910	$11,478
Gravette Middle School	Public	6-8	607 Dallas St SE	Gravette	72736	Benton County	Gravette School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 787-4100	508	39	12.8	40.9%	421 (82.9%)	4 (0.8%)	40 (7.9%)	15 (3.0%)	7 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (3.9%)	71.4	80^th of 327 public middle schools	75.5%		78.3	45^th of 324 public middle schools	86.1%	35		45.1	32.1	50.6	43.2		47.7	35.1	53.0	45.9		59.6	52.3	50.0	54.2		90.5	90.5				45.4	44.7	55.9	49.2	$11,507	$552	$10,955
Gentry Middle School	Public	6-8	1265 Pioneer Ln.	Gentry	72734	Benton County	Gentry School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 736-2251	425	32	13.4	55.1%	243 (57.2%)	2 (0.5%)	67 (15.8%)	34 (8.0%)	16 (3.8%)	10 (2.4%)	53 (12.5%)	52.2	156^th of 327 public middle schools	52.3%		42.6	199^th of 324 public middle schools	38.6%	43		42.2	35.1	30.9	36.1		42.2	36.5	30.9	36.5		37.4	33.3	41.7	37.5		80.8	81.5				40.9	47.1	55.7	48.1	$11,439	$529	$10,910
Grimsley Junior High School	Public	7-8	5303 Bright Road	Bentonville	72712	Benton County	Bentonville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 360-7500	846	54	15.6	24.5%	533 (63.0%)	35 (4.1%)	148 (17.5%)	65 (7.7%)	7 (0.8%)	6 (0.7%)	52 (6.1%)	92	15^th of 327 public middle schools	95.4%		88	18^th of 324 public middle schools	94.4%	3			63.1	56.3	59.7			60.8	53.3	57.1			68.8	53.5	63.0	97.1	80.4	83.3	92.0	92.0			71.4	62.1	66.9	$10,369	$403	$9,967
Siloam Springs Intermediate School	Public	5-6	1500 North Mount Olive	Siloam Springs	72761	Benton County	Siloam Springs School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 524-8152	684	39	17.7	64.8%	313 (45.8%)	6 (0.9%)	245 (35.8%)	19 (2.8%)	28 (4.1%)	12 (1.8%)	61 (8.9%)								(n/a)	39.7	32.1			35.7	39.1	36.4			37.6	47.6	39.2			43.3						41.3	37.2			39.2	$10,570	$1,151	$9,419
Ardis Ann Middle School	Public	5-6	3400 Highway 72 West	Bentonville	72712	Benton County	Bentonville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 254-5510	576	35	16.4	17.4%	426 (74.0%)	22 (3.8%)	62 (10.8%)	33 (5.7%)	7 (1.2%)	4 (0.7%)	22 (3.8%)								(n/a)	58.2	65.0			61.7	56.7	64.3			60.7	68.2	72.3			70.4						62.9	64.5			63.7	$11,110	$533	$10,577
Creekside Middle School	Public	5-6	5303 Bright Road	Bentonville	72712	Benton County	Bentonville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 286-9600	635	36	17.4	27.7%	383 (60.3%)	29 (4.6%)	89 (14.0%)	87 (13.7%)	11 (1.7%)	5 (0.8%)	31 (4.9%)								(n/a)	54.0	52.3			53.1	51.6	51.0			51.3	71.0	62.7			66.8						63.3	61.4			62.3	$10,802	$405	$10,397
J. William Fulbright Junior High School	Public	7-8	5303 Bright Road	Bentonville	72712	Benton County	Bentonville School District	No	No	No	No	(479) 802-7000	718	50	14.2	11.1%	455 (63.4%)	21 (2.9%)	83 (11.6%)	129 (18.0%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	23 (3.2%)	96.7	6^th of 327 public middle schools	98.2%		97.5	4^th of 324 public middle schools	98.8%	2			71.4	73.1	72.3			70.7	72.6	71.6			74.9	68.5	72.6	100.0	89.9	92.8	86.5	86.5			72.5	77.0	74.7	$12,893	$322	$12,571
Bright Field Middle School	Public	5-6	5101 SW Bright Road	Bentonville	72712	Benton County	Bentonville School District	No	No	No	No	(479) 418-7200	697	35	19.7	4.6%	464 (66.6%)	18 (2.6%)	48 (6.9%)	130 (18.7%)	5 (0.7%)	3 (0.4%)	29 (4.2%)								(n/a)	77.2	81.8			79.5	75.1	78.0			76.7	86.5	86.0			86.3						81.4	82.7			82.0	$10,617	$365	$10,253
Siloam Springs Middle School	Public	7-8	600 S. Dogwood St.	Siloam Springs	72761	Benton County	Siloam Springs School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 524-6184	743	49	15.2	58.8%	334 (45.0%)	13 (1.7%)	274 (36.9%)	24 (3.2%)	32 (4.3%)	16 (2.2%)	50 (6.7%)	50.5	170^th of 327 public middle schools	48.0%		54.8	135^th of 324 public middle schools	58.3%	35			29.3	37.5	33.7			32.2	36.8	34.7			37.7	34.5	36.3		87.0	87.3					43.3	46.0	44.8	$12,290	$1,000	$11,290

Frequently Asked Questions about Decatur Middle School

What district is Decatur Middle School in?

Decatur School District

What is the racial makeup of Decatur Middle School?

Students at Decatur Middle School are 43% Hispanic, 42% White, 5% Pacific Islander, 4% American Indian, 3% Asian, 2% African American.

How many students attend Decatur Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 162 students attended Decatur Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Decatur Middle School attend?

Students who attend Decatur Middle School usually go on to attend Decatur High School

Is Decatur Middle School a good school?

Decatur Middle School ranks in the bottom 17.1% of Arkansas middle schools.

Rate Decatur Middle School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

ARArkansas Middle School Rankings

ARArkansas District Rankings

Schools in Decatur, AR

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Decatur Middle School!

Latest Arkansas data All new data »

2025–26 ATLAS test scoresNewJul 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.