Gentry Middle School

Gentry Middle School in Gentry, AR, serves 425 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Gentry School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks 86th out of 251 districts in the state.

This school has experienced a notable decline over the past decade, dropping from a top-tier 4-star ranking in the 82nd-84th percentile to its current 3-star status in the 52nd percentile. While its overall math proficiency (37.5%) falls below the state average, an extraordinary 81.5% of 8th graders taking Algebra score proficient—more than double the state average. This suggests the school excels at accelerating a select group of students but may struggle with the general math curriculum. Additionally, English Language Arts and Reading scores show a concerning decline as students progress from 6th to 8th grade, which is the opposite of the typical pattern seen at high-performing schools like Hellstern Middle School in the Springdale School District. On a positive note, science proficiency (48.1%) is above the state average, indicating a relative strength in that department.

Compared to nearby schools, Gentry Middle School performs slightly better than Siloam Springs Middle School in the Siloam Springs School District and significantly outperforms Decatur Middle School in the Decatur School District. However, it trails Gravette Middle School in the Gravette School District, a consistent 4-star school. The gap is most pronounced when compared to the Bentonville School District, where schools like Bright Field Middle School post proficiency rates of 70-80% or higher. Despite this, Gentry’s per-student spending ($11,439) is comparable to or higher than some Bentonville schools, suggesting the challenge may lie in resource allocation or instructional effectiveness rather than funding alone.