Hackett Elementary School

Hackett Elementary School in Hackett, AR, serves 474 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade and is part of the Hackett School District, a district that has faced significant challenges in recent years.

One of the most defining characteristics of Hackett Elementary is that 100% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the highest rate among nearby schools. This level of socioeconomic need is a key factor in understanding the school's academic performance, which has declined over the past decade. For example, in the 2017-2018 school year, the school ranked in the 68th percentile statewide, but by the 2025-2026 school year, it had fallen to the 27th percentile. This decline is particularly stark when compared to nearby Westwood Elementary School in the Greenwood School District, which has consistently ranked in the 90th percentile or higher. Interestingly, Hackett’s per-student spending ($11,695) is actually higher than that of top-performing schools like East Pointe Elementary School ($10,392), suggesting that funding alone is not the issue.

A particularly noteworthy finding is that Hackett’s 4th graders perform at or above the state average in several subjects, including Science (52% vs. state 44.4%). However, by 5th and 6th grade, proficiency rates drop dramatically—for instance, 5th-grade English Language Arts proficiency is just 12.7% compared to the state average of 40.9%. This sharp decline is not seen in nearby schools like John P. Woods Elementary School or Barling Elementary School, which maintain more consistent performance across grade levels. This pattern suggests that while early elementary instruction may be effective, there may be a systemic challenge in upper grades that the school community can address.