Hackett High School

Hackett High School is a small, rural public school in Hackett, AR, serving 350 students in grades 7 through 12, where every student faces economic hardship—100% qualify for free or reduced lunch—yet the school consistently graduates over 92% of its students, a rate that beats the state average and stands out among nearby schools.

What makes Hackett High School unique is its ability to support students despite limited resources. With a student-teacher ratio of just 6.2:1, far lower than Northside High School (11.2:1) or Southside High School (10.7:1), students get personalized attention that helps keep them on track—the dropout rate is under 1.3%. However, academic test scores on state assessments generally lag behind state averages, which is common for schools with high poverty rates. Interestingly, Hackett excels in Geometry, with proficiency rates (38.9%) well above the state average (26.4%), while struggling in Algebra (26.9% vs. 36.9% statewide). This suggests the school has particular strengths in teaching spatial reasoning, even as it works to improve foundational math skills.

Hackett’s performance is best understood in context. It sits just 6.5 miles from Haas Hall Academy Fort Smith, the top-ranked district in Arkansas where only 3% of students are economically disadvantaged, and 9 miles from Greenwood High School, a 5-star school with a 21.9% poverty rate. While those schools achieve higher test scores, Hackett’s achievement is remarkable given its challenges. The Hackett School District spends $13,307 per student—less than nearby Mansfield School District ($15,131)—but still manages to keep students engaged and graduating. For parents, Hackett High School offers a stable, supportive environment where every student is known and helped toward a diploma, even if test scores don’t always reflect the hard work happening inside the classroom.