The Academies Of West Memphis Charter School

The Academies Of West Memphis Charter School serves 897 students in grades 10-12 in West Memphis, AR, and is part of the West Memphis School District, which ranks near the bottom of the state. Every student at this school qualifies for free or reduced lunch, highlighting significant economic challenges that shape the learning environment.

One standout feature is the school's low student-teacher ratio of 8.5:1, which is better than nearby Marion High School (10.2:1) and suggests more individualized attention. However, test scores tell a mixed story: while the graduation rate is 89.3% (close to the state average), only 31.8% of students are proficient in English Language Arts and 16.3% in Geometry. An interesting bright spot is 10th-grade Geometry, where 38.8% of students scored proficient—far exceeding the state average of 16.5% and outperforming Marion High School's 0% in that subject. This suggests a specific instructional strategy that works well for that grade and subject. The school also spends $14,931 per student, more than Marion High School ($13,363) but less than Earle High School ($17,680).

Compared to Earle High School, which is in the 1st percentile statewide, The Academies of West Memphis is a stronger performer with a higher graduation rate (89.3% vs. 74.1%) and better test scores across the board. The school has shown improvement over the last three years, with English Language Arts proficiency rising from 17% to 31.8%. Still, the dropout rate is volatile, ranging from 2.5% to 5.8%, and remains higher than both Marion (1.6%) and Earle (1.7%). This school is a clear example of how poverty impacts academic outcomes, but its low student-teacher ratio and recent upward trends offer hope for continued progress.