Leslie Intermediate School

Leslie Intermediate School in Leslie, AR, is a small, rural school serving 170 students in grades 4 through 6 within the Searcy County School District, and it stands out as a high-performing school despite serving a community where nearly all students (98.24%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

What makes Leslie Intermediate particularly noteworthy is its strong academic performance, especially in math and science, where it consistently beats the state average. For example, 50% of students are proficient in math (compared to 44.1% statewide) and 51.2% in science (compared to 44% statewide). This is a remarkable achievement given the high level of economic disadvantage. The school invests heavily in its students, spending $15,422 per pupil—23.6% more than nearby Clinton Junior High School—and maintains a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8:1, which allows for more individualized attention. Over the past three years, the school has shown steady improvement in all core subjects, a sign of effective teaching and school-wide strategies.

However, there is one area of concern: a significant drop in 6th-grade math proficiency. While 4th and 5th graders excel (56.9% and 59.2% proficient, respectively), only 36% of 6th graders meet the mark—well below the state average of 45.1%. This "6th-grade dip" may be due to a challenging new curriculum or a specific cohort issue, and it is a key area for the school to address. Overall, Leslie Intermediate is a bright spot in high-poverty education, using targeted resources and small class sizes to help students succeed, particularly in math and science.