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Jefferson Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

7^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 99% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary School in Little Rock, AR, is a K-5 school serving 359 students in the Little Rock School District, and it stands out as one of the top-performing elementary schools in the entire state, ranking #1 in Arkansas for the 2023-2024 school year and consistently in the top 10 for nearly a decade.

This school is a true academic powerhouse, with test scores that far exceed those of nearby schools. For example, in math, 80.2% of Jefferson students are proficient, compared to 70.3% at the nearby Forest Park Elementary School and just 13.9% at McDermott Elementary School. In English Language Arts, Jefferson’s proficiency rate is 73.5%, while the district average is only 31.7%. This high performance is consistent across all grades and subjects, with 3rd graders achieving an incredible 89.8% proficiency in math. Interestingly, Jefferson achieves these results with lower per-student spending ($15,785) than some lower-performing peers, like McDermott ($20,488), suggesting that factors like effective teaching and strong school culture drive its success.

While Jefferson is a beacon of excellence, it also highlights a stark contrast within the Little Rock School District, which ranks in the bottom 30% of the state. Schools just a mile or two away, such as Brady Elementary School and Terry Elementary School, have proficiency rates in the single digits. This disparity shows how a child’s educational experience can vary dramatically based on their school. For parents, Jefferson offers a proven track record of sustained, elite performance, making it a standout choice in the area.

359

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,785

Per pupil spending ?

35.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2600 N McKinley
Little Rock, AR 72207

(501) 447-5000

District: Little Rock School District

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Pulaski Heights Middle School
High:	Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.1%

African American:

20.6%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 68th percentile in 2016 → 99th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arkansas average (75% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Arkansas elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 31 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg32%

Arkansas avg42%

7^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 31 pts since 2016

From top 32% (2016) to top 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 22Elementary Schools in the Little Rock School District

178^th of 251Little Rock School District among Arkansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	97.0	7 of 491	98.6%	★★★★★
2025	98.6	3 of 495	99.4%	★★★★★
2024	99.2	1 of 497	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	96.8	3 of 492	99.4%	★★★★★
2022	95.1	10 of 487	97.9%	★★★★★
2021	96.3	7 of 496	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	95.5	5 of 488	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	91.9	22 of 480	95.4%	★★★★★
2017	86.3	34 of 485	93.0%	★★★★★
2016	62.8	160 of 494	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	88.6	31 of 466	93.3%	★★★★★
2014	77.9	72 of 471	84.7%	★★★★☆
2013	86.5	17 of 476	96.4%	★★★★★
2012	74.5	88 of 468	81.2%	★★★★☆
2011	81.0	51 of 471	89.2%	★★★★☆
2010	83.2	39 of 457	91.5%	★★★★★
2009	82.8	45 of 445	89.9%	★★★★★
2008	71.6	122 of 439	72.2%	★★★★☆
2007	71.1	116 of 440	73.6%	★★★★☆
2006	65.8	145 of 402	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	68.4	119 of 411	71.0%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics80%+36 vs state

Science74%+30 vs state

English Language Arts74%+34 vs state

Reading71%+31 vs state

5.0

6 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★6

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, September 1, 2019

Best Elementary School in LR. It’s been that way for a while but the secret is getting out now. Close Quote

by a citizen
Sunday, September 1, 2019

This is the best elementary school in Little Rock. It’s what every school dreams of being like in the district. Mixed classes with every type of person and financial class represented. Didn’t get it’s success off shoe ins has done it with the students that are assigned (legitimately) to the school. Great PTA and volunteers with top notch staff and principle. Cammack Police Dept. sitting next door is a huge plus as well. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, March 4, 2016

This is an excellent school. The teachers and staff are wonderful. It truly feels like home! Close Quote

Schools Near Jefferson Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2026)							ATLAS Reading (2026)							ATLAS Mathematics (2026)							ATLAS Algebra (2026)		ATLAS Science (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading 6th Grade	ATLAS Reading 7th Grade	ATLAS Reading 8th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 6th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 7th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 8th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Algebra 8th Grade	ATLAS Algebra All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science 6th Grade	ATLAS Science 7th Grade	ATLAS Science 8th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-5	2600 N McKinley	Little Rock	72207	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	No	(501) 447-5000	359	22	16.4	35.7%	241 (67.1%)	74 (20.6%)	14 (3.9%)	10 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	18 (5.0%)	97	7^th of 491 public elementary schools	98.6%		98.6	3^rd of 495 public elementary schools	99.4%	4	83.7	76.4	64.3				73.5	83.6	76.3	58.9				71.2	89.8	85.5	69.8				80.2			81.7	76.4	67.2				74.0	$15,785	$2,279	$13,507
Forest Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 N. Tyler	Little Rock	72207	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	No	(501) 447-4500	379	21	18.0	33.2%	246 (64.9%)	90 (23.7%)	22 (5.8%)	11 (2.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	91	26^th of 491 public elementary schools	94.7%		94.8	19^th of 495 public elementary schools	96.2%	7	84.6	58.9	66.1				69.8	84.6	57.3	71.4				70.9	83.1	58.8	69.6				70.3			70.8	51.4	60.7				60.9	$15,903	$1,806	$14,097
Williams Magnet Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	7301 Evergreen Street	Little Rock	72207	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(501) 447-7100	340	21	16.1	68.5%	83 (24.4%)	188 (55.3%)	39 (11.5%)	18 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.5%)	46.8	273^rd of 491 public elementary schools	44.4%		51.5	249^th of 495 public elementary schools	49.7%	24	29.3	38.2	44.5				38.0	26.8	40.0	48.2				39.4	24.4	36.4	57.4				40.7			19.5	49.1	40.7				38.0	$17,141	$2,050	$15,091
Forest Heights Stem Academy	Public	K-8	5901 Evergreen	Little Rock	72205	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-2700	777	48	16.3	55.2%	211 (27.2%)	453 (58.3%)	68 (8.8%)	31 (4.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	11 (1.4%)	76.8	102^nd of 491 public elementary schools	79.2%		71.5	128^th of 495 public elementary schools	74.1%	26	59.4	43.1	55.6	57.3	48.2	56.7	53.7	60.8	40.2	52.8	55.6	51.8	59.2	54.0	60.8	45.9	50.0	52.4	72.4	45.8	55.9	89.6	89.6	60.8	45.9	59.8	52.4	70.7	63.3	59.5	$14,743	$1,744	$12,999
Brady Elementary School	Public	K-5	7915 W Markham Street	Little Rock	72205	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-3900	309	21	14.7	99.0%	26 (8.4%)	248 (80.3%)	11 (3.6%)	11 (3.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.6%)								(n/a)																															$17,641	$2,118	$15,523
Crystal Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5001 Northshore Dr	North Little Rock	72118	Pulaski County	Pulaski County Special School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 791-8000	499	33	15.0	59.9%	68 (13.6%)	333 (66.7%)	41 (8.2%)	10 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	44 (8.8%)	34.1	345^th of 491 public elementary schools	29.7%		37.6	326^th of 495 public elementary schools	34.1%	19	37.2	26.2	37.7				32.4	39.3	27.4	39.6				34.1	49.0	22.7	41.5				35.1			43.1	21.4	37.7				31.9	$15,178	$1,952	$13,226
McDermott Elementary School	Public	K-5	1200 Reservoir Road	Little Rock	72227	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-5500	254	18	14.1	98.8%	32 (12.6%)	186 (73.2%)	21 (8.3%)	5 (2.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (3.1%)	9.1	467^th of 491 public elementary schools	4.9%		19.9	412^th of 495 public elementary schools	16.8%	55	28.0	10.1	20.6				18.7	28.0	10.1	22.1				19.3	20.0	8.7	14.7				13.9			28.0	8.6	19.1				17.6	$20,488	$1,974	$18,514
Pulaski Heights Elementary School	Public	K-5	319 North Pine	Little Rock	72205	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-5900	266	15	17.7	48.1%	130 (48.9%)	109 (41.0%)	9 (3.4%)	5 (1.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.8%)	64.5	173^rd of 491 public elementary schools	64.8%		72.2	124^th of 495 public elementary schools	74.9%	49	53.0	42.8	46.4				47.2	49.0	53.6	42.8				48.4	44.9	44.7	48.2				46.0			44.9	50.0	48.2				47.8	$15,167	$1,742	$13,424
Fulbright Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	300 Pleasant Valley Drive	Little Rock	72212	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-4700	485	28	17.5	53.4%	190 (39.2%)	232 (47.8%)	28 (5.8%)	25 (5.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	67.2	157^th of 491 public elementary schools	68.0%		64.4	168^th of 495 public elementary schools	66.1%	11	56.1	45.6	46.8				49.2	57.5	47.0	51.7				51.7	57.6	43.2	50.0				49.7			56.0	42.0	37.1				45.0	$17,042	$3,614	$13,428
Arkansas School For The Blind Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2600 W Markham	Little Rock	72205	Pulaski County	Arkansas School For The Blind	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 296-1810	30	11	2.7	70.0%	18 (60.0%)	8 (26.7%)	2 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.7%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson Elementary School

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 359 students attended Jefferson Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary School?

Students at Jefferson Elementary School are 67% White, 21% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 3% Asian.

What district is Jefferson Elementary School in?

Little Rock School District

Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Jefferson Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 7^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Jefferson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pulaski Heights Middle School
High : Central High School

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Latest Arkansas data All new data »

2025–26 ATLAS test scoresJul 13, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2019–20 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 dropout ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.