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Drew Central Elementary School

Q: Is Drew Central Elementary School a good school?

Drew Central Elementary School ranks 268 th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

268^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 45% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Drew Central Elementary School in Monticello, AR, serves 562 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade and is part of the Drew Central School District, which has a 2-star rating and ranks 155th out of 251 districts in Arkansas.

Drew Central Elementary stands out for its remarkable recent academic improvement, especially given its challenges. The school has a 100% free/reduced lunch rate, the highest among nearby schools like Monticello Elementary School (69.85%) and Monticello Intermediate School (66.48%), and spends significantly less per student ($11,891) compared to those schools ($14,854 and $13,844, respectively). Despite these factors, the school jumped from the 27th percentile in state rankings to the 45th percentile in the most recent data—its highest in a decade. This upward trend is particularly impressive because teachers manage larger classes (18.5:1 student-teacher ratio) than at nearby schools like Warren Elementary School (13.9:1) or Thomas C Brunson Elementary School (17.5:1).

A key finding is that Drew Central's 3rd graders excel, exceeding state averages in English Language Arts (47.5% vs. 42.9%), Reading (45.4% vs. 43.1%), and Science (50.5% vs. 45.4%). However, by 5th grade, proficiency drops below state averages, especially in Math (32.7% vs. 45.0%). This pattern suggests the early elementary program (PK-4) is strong, but students may struggle with the transition to upper grades. Compared to Monticello Intermediate School, Drew Central outperforms in 3rd-grade ELA and Science but lags in 4th- and 5th-grade Math and Science. Overall, the school's recent gains—achieved with fewer resources and higher poverty—highlight a story of resilience and effective instruction in early literacy and science.

562

Students ?

18.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,891

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

250 University Drive
Monticello, AR 71655

(870) 367-6893

District: Drew Central School District

Students who attend Drew Central Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Drew Central Middle School
High:	Drew Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.3%

African American:

25.1%

Hispanic:

6.4%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 27th percentile in 2016 → 45th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg34%

Arkansas avg42%

268^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 45%▲ up 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 27% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

155^th of 251Drew Central 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	48.0	268 of 491	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.4	241 of 495	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	32.2	364 of 497	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.3	372 of 492	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.3	409 of 487	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.1	400 of 496	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.0	401 of 488	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.2	430 of 480	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	32.6	356 of 485	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	36.1	359 of 494	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	38.7	297 of 466	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	54.6	238 of 471	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	40.6	339 of 476	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	63.5	192 of 468	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	60.9	213 of 471	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	60.5	196 of 457	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	72.0	113 of 445	74.6%	★★★★☆
2008	55.4	222 of 439	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	47.7	271 of 440	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	50.2	238 of 402	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	38.0	299 of 411	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Science42%~ state avg

Reading41%~ state avg

English Language Arts40%~ state avg

Mathematics38%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Drew Central Elementary 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 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 3rd Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Drew Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	250 University Drive	Monticello	71655	Drew County	Drew Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 367-6893	562	30	18.5	100.0%	356 (63.3%)	141 (25.1%)	36 (6.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.6%)	48	268^th of 491 public elementary schools	45.4%		53.4	241^st of 495 public elementary schools	51.3%	27	47.5	45.9	27.2	39.7	45.4	44.7	34.6	41.2	36.1	47.1	32.7	38.1	50.5	37.7	37.5	41.9	$11,891	$1,680	$10,211
Monticello Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1037 Scogin Drive	Monticello	71655	Drew County	Monticello School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 367-4010	408	26	15.5	69.9%	218 (53.4%)	151 (37.0%)	16 (3.9%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.7%)								(n/a)																	$14,854	$2,693	$12,160
Monticello Intermediate School	Public	3-5	280 Clyde Ross	Monticello	71655	Drew County	Monticello School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 367-4030	361	25	14.2	66.5%	199 (55.1%)	121 (33.5%)	23 (6.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.4%)	51.3	250^th of 491 public elementary schools	49.1%		56	224^th of 495 public elementary schools	54.7%	26	37.6	37.1	41.4	38.5	37.6	39.5	41.3	39.4	39.3	54.1	47.1	47.0	35.0	50.8	43.2	43.2	$13,844	$3,716	$10,128
Warren Elementary School	Public	K-3	220 Lady Jack Drive	Warren	71671	Bradley County	Warren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 226-6761	412	29	13.9	83.7%	143 (34.7%)	144 (35.0%)	115 (27.9%)	5 (1.2%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	19.8	419^th of 491 public elementary schools	14.7%		21.9	402^nd of 495 public elementary schools	18.8%	17	25.5			25.5	25.5			25.5	31.6			31.6	30.6			30.6	$12,305	$1,554	$10,752
Thomas C Brunson Elementary School	Public	4-5	212 Scobey Dr	Warren	71671	Bradley County	Warren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 226-2351	217	12	17.5	100.0%	73 (33.6%)	74 (34.1%)	59 (27.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	1 (0.5%)	7 (3.2%)	43.6	288^th of 491 public elementary schools	41.3%		49.8	261^st of 495 public elementary schools	47.3%	27		33.3	37.2	35.5		33.3	40.7	37.4		32.3	51.8	42.9		41.9	30.4	35.6	$13,272	$2,057	$11,215

Frequently Asked Questions about Drew Central Elementary School

What district is Drew Central Elementary School in?

Drew Central School District

Is Drew Central Elementary School a good school?

Drew Central Elementary School ranks 268^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Drew Central Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 562 students attended Drew Central Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Drew Central Elementary School?

Students at Drew Central Elementary School are 63% White, 25% African American, 6% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Drew Central Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Drew Central Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Drew Central Middle School
High : Drew Central High 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.