Drew Central Middle School

Drew Central Middle School in Monticello, AR, serves 360 students in grades 5 through 8 and is part of the Drew Central School District, which has a 2-star rating. The school faces significant challenges, with 100% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and it has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Arkansas middle schools over the past decade, earning a 1-star rating each year.

Despite these struggles, Drew Central Middle School has a remarkable bright spot: its Algebra program. In the 2025-2026 school year, 93.3% of 8th graders scored proficient or advanced on the state Algebra exam, far exceeding the state average of 73.9% and dramatically outperforming nearby schools like Monticello Middle School (57.1%) and Warren Middle School (61.6%). This suggests a highly effective math acceleration program that could serve as a model for other subjects. However, in most other areas, the school lags behind, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Reading well below state averages. For example, while Drew Central’s math proficiency has improved from 24.8% to 36.9% over two years, it still trails Warren Middle School’s 56.7% in 7th-grade math.

Compared to its local rival, Monticello Middle School (just 1.2 miles away), Drew Central serves a much higher poverty population and has larger class sizes (15.4:1 student-teacher ratio vs. 13:1). Monticello outperforms Drew Central in most subjects, though Drew Central actually surpasses it in 8th-grade math (35.3% vs. 13.7%). The school spends $11,633 per student, less than Monticello’s $12,715 but more than Warren’s historical $8,873, yet outcomes remain lower—highlighting that the challenge is not just funding but also the impact of high poverty and instructional strategies. The key takeaway for parents is that Drew Central has pockets of excellence, particularly in Algebra, but faces systemic hurdles that require continued focus on improving core academic areas.