Summary
Kingston Elementary School is a small, rural school in Kingston, AR, serving 122 students in grades PK through 6 as part of the Jasper School District. One of the most striking features of this school is the dramatic difference in performance between its 3rd and 4th graders. In the most recent school year, 3rd graders excelled, with 80% proficient in math and 70% in ELA—well above state averages. However, the same cohort of students in 4th grade saw a steep drop, with only about 17% proficient in all subjects. This "4th grade wall" is a unique challenge not seen in nearby schools like Jasper Elementary School or Green Forest Elementary School, and it suggests a possible issue with curriculum or teaching in that grade level.
Kingston invests heavily in its students, spending $16,608 per student—significantly more than Jasper Elementary ($13,106) or Huntsville Intermediate School ($10,167). This high spending supports a very low student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1, meaning your child would likely get plenty of individual attention. Despite this investment, the school's performance has been volatile, swinging from the 81st percentile in 2022-2023 to the 22nd percentile the next year, before rebounding to the 53rd percentile. This inconsistency is likely due to its small size, where the performance of just a few students can dramatically shift the school's ranking from year to year.
Interestingly, Kingston shows a clear strength in early math instruction, with 3rd graders outperforming all nearby schools. However, the school's overall math scores are still competitive, and the high spending doesn't always translate to better results compared to its district counterpart, Jasper Elementary, which spends less but often achieves higher overall scores. The percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch also jumped from 67% to 98% in recent years, which may be a factor in the school's performance swings. For parents, Kingston offers small classes and strong early learning, but the 4th-grade drop-off is a key area to investigate further.
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