Summary
Hazen High School is a small, rural school in Hazen, Arkansas, serving 229 students in grades 7 through 12, where 72% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Despite being part of the Hazen School District, which ranks near the bottom of the state, the school boasts a strong graduation rate of 93%, above the state average of 90.1%. However, this positive outcome contrasts sharply with very low academic proficiency rates in most subjects, making it a school of intriguing contrasts.
One standout finding is Hazen's exceptional performance in Biology, where 48.2% of students were proficient, surpassing the state average of 42.7%—a rare bright spot compared to nearby schools like Lonoke High School and Clarendon High School. Yet, this success is overshadowed by a critical weakness in Geometry, where 0% of students were proficient, far below the state average of 26.4% and the lowest among peers. In English Language Arts, only 18.7% of Hazen students were proficient, compared to 49.3% at Des Arc High School, a nearby 5-star school with similar economic challenges. This suggests a systemic issue in math instruction, while the Biology success offers a potential model for improvement.
Hazen spends $14,750 per student, higher than Des Arc's $13,482, yet its academic outcomes lag significantly, indicating that funding alone isn't the issue. The school's state ranking has declined from the 41st percentile to the 25th over three years, while Des Arc has thrived. For parents, the key takeaway is that Hazen excels at graduating students and has a notable strength in Biology, but faces urgent challenges in math and reading. The success of Des Arc, just 14 miles away, shows that improvement is possible, and Hazen's own Biology program provides a local example to build upon.
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