Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Bale Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

463^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Bale Elementary School is a K-5 public school in Little Rock, AR, serving 330 students within the Little Rock School District, where 99% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting extremely high economic need.

Academically, Bale is one of the lowest-performing schools in the state, ranking in the 6th percentile for the 2025-2026 school year. Test scores across all subjects are significantly below both district and state averages, often by 15 to 25 percentage points. This places it in a cluster of struggling schools, alongside Stephens Elementary (1st percentile) and Brady Elementary School (3rd percentile). However, a stark contrast exists within the same district: schools just a few miles away, like Forest Park Elementary School (95th percentile) and Forest Heights Stem Academy (79th percentile), are among the top-performing in the state. Notably, Bale spends more per student ($16,780) than these high-achieving peers, yet sees far lower outcomes, highlighting that the challenges are deeply tied to socioeconomic factors rather than just funding.

Despite these difficulties, there is a glimmer of hope. Bale’s test scores have shown a dramatic upward trend over the last two years, with English Language Arts proficiency rising from 8.9% to 20.5% and Mathematics from 7.8% to 15.6%. This rate of improvement is steeper than that of similarly low-performing peers like Stephens Elementary. Nearby Wakefield Elementary School, which also has a 99% poverty rate, achieves higher math proficiency (30.6%), suggesting that school-level factors can make a difference. If this positive trend continues, Bale could become a case study in how to improve outcomes in a high-poverty school.

330

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,780

Per pupil spending ?

99.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6501 W 32nd Street
Little Rock, AR 72204

(501) 447-3600

District: Little Rock School District

Students who attend Bale Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Little Rock Southwest High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

70.9%

Hispanic:

16.7%

Two or more races:

5.5%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

Compare Bale Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 8th percentile in 2016 → 6th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (19% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!Mathematics scores 28 pts below the Arkansas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school19%

District avg32%

Arkansas avg42%

463^rd of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th 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	10.0	463 of 491	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	5.4	491 of 495	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.7	488 of 497	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.2	479 of 492	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.9	466 of 487	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.6	463 of 496	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.9	457 of 488	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.8	459 of 480	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	4.3	480 of 485	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	13.7	453 of 494	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	33.3	329 of 466	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	12.2	441 of 471	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	0.7	474 of 476	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	4.1	457 of 468	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	3.7	461 of 471	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	12.8	425 of 457	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	19.0	387 of 445	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	13.5	401 of 439	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	10.7	408 of 440	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	10.1	380 of 402	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	11.3	389 of 411	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Reading23%-18 vs state

English Language Arts20%-19 vs state

Science18%-26 vs state

Mathematics16%-28 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Bale Elementary School and help other families decide.

Rate Bale Elementary School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Bale Elementary School

Load more schools when map is moved

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
Bale Elementary School	Public	K-5	6501 W 32nd Street	Little Rock	72204	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-3600	330	22	15.0	99.1%	16 (4.8%)	234 (70.9%)	55 (16.7%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.5%)	10	463^rd of 491 public elementary schools	5.7%		5.4	491^st of 495 public elementary schools	0.8%	28	15.5	23.4	22.5				20.5	22.2	23.4	22.4				22.7	13.3	17.1	16.3				15.6			26.6	19.1	10.2				18.4	$16,780	$2,965	$13,815
Western Hills Elementary School	Public	K-5	4901 Western Hills Ave	Little Rock	72204	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-6900	202	16	12.5	98.5%	15 (7.4%)	112 (55.4%)	69 (34.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.0%)	18.2	429^th of 491 public elementary schools	12.6%		13.3	452^nd of 495 public elementary schools	8.7%	23	18.5	3.4	32.4				19.4	22.2	3.4	32.4				20.4	18.5	6.8	40.5				23.7			22.2	6.9	35.1				22.6	$17,363	$1,707	$15,657
Friendship Academy Little Rock Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	Little Rock Ar 72204	Pine Bluff	71603	Pulaski County	Friendship Aspire Academies Arkansas	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(501) 500-0558	200	13	15.1	76.5%	0 (0.0%)	186 (93.0%)	11 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	29.7	377^th of 491 public elementary schools	23.2%		15.6	439^th of 495 public elementary schools	11.3%	62	32.2	28.2	17.9				26.4	32.2	23.1	13.7				22.9	71.4	53.8	28.5				51.5			39.3	23.0	21.5				27.4
Stephens Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3700 W 18th Street	Little Rock	72204	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-6400	474	27	17.5	99.4%	23 (4.9%)	397 (83.8%)	27 (5.7%)	5 (1.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.2%)	5.7	484^th of 491 public elementary schools	1.4%		5.2	492^nd of 495 public elementary schools	0.6%	8	14.5	10.9	16.6				14.0	18.4	9.4	18.2				15.5	14.5	10.8	13.4				13.0			22.3	14.1	13.6				17.0	$17,478	$3,256	$14,222
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
Wakefield Elementary School	Public	K-5	75 Westminister	Little Rock	72209	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-6600	493	29	16.9	99.4%	40 (8.1%)	259 (52.5%)	183 (37.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	16.3	437^th of 491 public elementary schools	11.0%		16.8	433^rd of 495 public elementary schools	12.5%	4	12.5	25.6	26.1				21.5	12.5	29.2	24.6				22.3	12.5	37.8	41.6				30.6			12.5	18.3	15.4				15.5	$16,594	$2,912	$13,682
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
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
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
Ivy Hill Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	2410 S Battery St	Little Rock	72215	Pulaski County	Scholarmade Achievement Place Of Arkansas	Yes	No	No	Yes	(501) 404-0012	306	22	14.0	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	302 (98.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	28.3	385^th of 491 public elementary schools	21.6%		15.5	440^th of 495 public elementary schools	11.1%	55	39.1	27.3	28.0	40.0	28.2	41.1	33.0	39.1	30.3	24.0	36.0	34.4	44.1	33.5	13.0	30.3	24.0	28.0	15.6	23.5	22.8			39.1	39.4	28.0	40.0	15.7	35.3	32.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Bale Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Bale Elementary School attend?

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

High : Little Rock Southwest High School

What district is Bale Elementary School in?

Little Rock School District

How many students attend Bale Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 330 students attended Bale Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Bale Elementary School?

Students at Bale Elementary School are 71% African American, 17% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 5% White.

Is Bale Elementary School a good school?

Bale Elementary School ranks in the bottom 5.7% of Arkansas elementary schools.

Rate Bale Elementary School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

ARArkansas Elementary School Rankings

ARArkansas District Rankings

Schools in Little Rock, AR

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Bale Elementary School!

Latest Arkansas data All new data »

2025–26 ATLAS test scoresNewJul 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.