Summary
Des Arc High School is a small, high-performing public school in Des Arc, Arkansas, serving 279 students in grades 7 through 12 and is part of the Des Arc School District, which ranks in the top 15% of districts statewide. This school stands out as an exceptional choice for families, ranking 8th out of 293 high schools in Arkansas—placing it in the top 3% of all high schools in the state. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Des Arc serves a student population where over 73% qualify for free or reduced lunch, a common measure of economic need, yet it dramatically outperforms nearby schools like Brinkley High School, Carlisle High School, and Hazen High School in every academic category.
On the ATLAS exam, Des Arc’s proficiency rates are more than double those of its neighbors. For example, in mathematics, 53% of Des Arc students are proficient compared to just 23.5% at Carlisle and 11.1% at Brinkley. In English Language Arts, Des Arc’s 49.3% proficiency rate is nearly double Carlisle’s 25.4% and more than triple Hazen’s 18.7%. The gap is even wider in advanced subjects like Geometry, where Des Arc’s 52.5% proficiency rate is over six times higher than Carlisle’s 8.1%, while Hazen and Brinkley sit at 0% and 2.6%, respectively. This consistent excellence extends across all grade levels, with 7th and 8th graders already performing well above state averages, showing that the school builds a strong foundation early.
Another standout feature is Des Arc’s efficiency: it spends $13,482 per student, significantly less than Carlisle ($17,555) and Brinkley ($16,455), yet achieves far superior results. The school’s graduation rate has been strong, recently recovering to 93% after a temporary dip, and its upward trajectory over the past decade—from 88th in the state to its current 8th place—reflects a sustained commitment to improvement. For parents seeking a school that delivers top-tier academics, efficient resource use, and a supportive environment, Des Arc High School is a clear standout in rural Arkansas.
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