Maynard Elementary School

Maynard Elementary School in Maynard, AR, serves 341 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade and is part of the Maynard School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 56th percentile statewide. The school stands out for its exceptionally high-needs population, with over 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch—a rate far exceeding nearby schools like Park Elementary School (78.67%) and Pocahontas Elementary School (74.54%). Despite these challenges, Maynard spends more per student ($11,835) than its neighbors and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.4:1, yet its overall academic performance has historically lagged behind state averages.

A surprising strength at Maynard is mathematics, where 39.3% of all students were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—higher than the district average of 37.4% and just 4.8 percentage points below the state average. The 5th grade cohort achieved an impressive 53.5% proficiency rate in math, exceeding the state average of 45%. However, this success is not consistent across all grades; 6th graders saw a dramatic drop to just 23.9% proficiency in math, a nearly 30-point decline from 5th grade. This "6th grade cliff" is a critical concern not observed in comparison schools, which only serve through 3rd or 4th grade. In other subjects, Maynard struggles, with science proficiency at 34.7% compared to Park Elementary School's 49.5%.

Over the past decade, Maynard has consistently ranked in the bottom third of Arkansas elementary schools, with no clear upward trend. Yet, given its extreme poverty levels, the school may be "punching above its weight"—performing roughly on par with Pocahontas Elementary School, which has a much lower poverty rate. The standout 5th grade math results suggest that targeted, effective instruction can make a difference, offering a potential model for improvement across other grades and subjects. For parents, this school offers dedicated resources and a strong math program, but faces significant hurdles in literacy and science, especially as students approach middle school.