Oscar Hamilton Elementary School

Oscar Hamilton Elementary School in Foreman, AR, is a K-6 school serving 273 students within the Foreman School District, a district that holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 70th percentile statewide.

Oscar Hamilton Elementary stands out as a top-tier performer, consistently earning a 4-star rating in six of the last seven school years. Its current state ranking places it in the 76th percentile, significantly outperforming nearby schools like Horatio Elementary (44th percentile) and Ashdown Elementary (37th percentile). The school’s science proficiency rate of 66.9% is nearly double that of Horatio (35.0%) and far exceeds the state average of 44.0%. In English Language Arts, Oscar Hamilton’s proficiency rate of 51.0% is a full 16 percentage points higher than both neighboring schools. This strong academic performance is especially notable given that approximately 74% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. The school also demonstrates efficient resource allocation, spending $11,957 per student—less than Horatio—while achieving far superior results.

A fascinating pattern emerges in grade-level data: 6th graders at Oscar Hamilton dramatically outperform all other grades, with proficiency rates of 71.9% in ELA, 75.0% in Reading, and 71.9% in Science. This "6th grade surge" is not seen at nearby schools, where 6th-grade proficiency is often the lowest. However, there is a notable weakness in 5th-grade Mathematics, where proficiency drops to 38.1%, below the state average of 45.0%. This dip contrasts sharply with the school’s high performance in 4th-grade Math (69.3%) and 6th-grade Math (65.7%), suggesting a specific instructional gap or challenging curriculum transition point. Overall, Oscar Hamilton Elementary is a resilient, high-performing school with standout science instruction and a particularly strong upper-elementary program that effectively prepares students for middle school.