Lakeside Junior High School

Lakeside Junior High School in Hot Springs, AR, serves 581 students in grades 7 and 8 and is part of the highly-rated Lakeside School District (Garland), which holds a 5-star rating and ranks in the 93rd percentile statewide.

This school stands out for its exceptional math program, particularly in advanced coursework. An impressive 90.2% of students taking the Algebra ATLAS exam were proficient, far exceeding the state average of 36.9% and outperforming every nearby school, including Jessieville Middle School (87.6%) and Lake Hamilton Middle School (below 60%). Overall math proficiency is 56.4%, significantly above the state average of 44.1%, with 7th graders achieving 62.2% proficiency. The school also excels in science, with a 56.9% proficiency rate that surpasses the state average (44%) and even its own district average. This strong performance is achieved with remarkable efficiency, as per-student spending is just $9,518—far less than comparable schools like Malvern Middle School ($15,859) and Jessieville Middle School ($14,158).

A key factor in this success is the cohesive educational pipeline created by its proximity to Lakeside Middle School (grades 5-6), just 0.46 miles away. Sixth graders there achieve 79.4% math proficiency, setting a strong foundation for junior high. While there is a slight dip in 8th-grade math proficiency (45.8%) as top students are channeled into Algebra, the school’s consistent top-12% state ranking over four years reflects stability and quality. In contrast, nearby Hot Springs Junior Academy ranks in the bottom 28%, highlighting the achievement gap tied to economic factors. Lakeside Junior High’s combination of strong academics, efficient spending, and a proven feeder system makes it a standout choice for families in the area.