McDermott Elementary School

McDermott Elementary School is a K-5 school in the Little Rock School District serving 254 students, and it faces significant challenges as one of the highest-poverty schools in the area, with nearly 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Academically, McDermott ranks in the 5th percentile statewide and has a 0-star rating, with proficiency rates in English (18.7%) and Math (13.9%) that are roughly half the district average and less than one-third of the state average. This creates a stark contrast with nearby schools like Jefferson Elementary and Forest Park Elementary, which have much lower poverty rates and significantly outperform state averages. Interestingly, Terry Elementary has a similar poverty rate (99%) but achieves notably higher proficiency (39.6% in ELA, 24.6% in Math), suggesting that school-level practices can make a difference even in high-poverty settings. McDermott also spends over $20,000 per student—more than high-performing peers like Jefferson ($15,785) and Forest Park ($15,903)—yet sees much lower academic returns, highlighting that financial investment alone isn't enough to overcome the challenges tied to extreme economic disadvantage.

A particularly concerning trend is a severe "4th-grade slump" at McDermott, where 4th-grade math proficiency drops to just 8.7%, compared to 20% in 3rd grade and 14.7% in 5th grade. This pattern is more pronounced here than at any other nearby school, pointing to a potential systemic issue with instruction or support at that grade level. While the school's ranking has declined from the 10th-17th percentile range in recent years to its current 5th percentile, the example of Terry Elementary shows that improvement is possible, and McDermott may have untapped potential for growth with targeted changes in leadership and teaching strategies.