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Rural Special High School

Q: Is Rural Special High School a good school?

Rural Special High School ranks 35 th of 293 Arkansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-12

35^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 293 Arkansas High Schools

Better than 88% of Arkansas high schools

Summary

Rural Special High School in Fox, AR, is a very small school serving 91 students in grades 7 through 12, located in a rural area with a high level of economic disadvantage, where over 96% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school stands out for its exceptional performance in mathematics, with a 54.3% proficiency rate that is 10 points above the state average and higher than nearby schools like Clinton High School and West Side High School. Its Geometry proficiency (50%) is nearly double the state average. However, English Language Arts scores (39.3%) are only average, creating a unique profile of a math powerhouse. The school also has an extremely low student-teacher ratio of 3.7:1, offering a highly personalized learning environment that is much smaller than Mountain View High School (6.6:1) in the same Mountain View School District. Per-student spending is high at $17,218, reflecting a significant investment in each child.

A key feature of Rural Special is its volatile state ranking, swinging from the 96th percentile (5 stars) in 2022-2023 to the 31st percentile (2 stars) in 2024-2025, then rebounding to the 88th percentile (4 stars) for 2025-2026. This volatility is common for very small schools, where a single cohort can dramatically shift results. Despite high poverty rates, the school outperforms economic expectations, ranking among the top 15% of Arkansas schools in its best years. A critical area for attention is the 8th-grade cohort, where only 15.4% were proficient in English Language Arts and Science in 2025-2026, suggesting targeted support could help stabilize future performance.

Students ?

3.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,218

Per pupil spending ?

96.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

13237 Hwy 263
Fox, AR 72051

(870) 363-4365

District: Mountain View School District

Feeder schools for Rural Special High School:

Elementary:

Rural Special Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.5%

Hispanic:

4.4%

Two or more races:

1.1%

See top rated Arkansas high schools

Compare Rural Special High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 96th percentile in 2023 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 12% of Arkansas high schools

✓92% graduate in 4 years — above the Arkansas average (89%)

✓Small classes — about 4 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 96th-percentile peak (2023) to 88th (2026)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg43%

Arkansas avg41%

Middle school

125^th of 327

Arkansas public middle schools ?

Top 38%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

35^th of 293

Arkansas public high schools ?

Top 12%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3High Schools in the Mountain View School District

116^th of 251Mountain View 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	59.1	125 of 327	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.5	125 of 324	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	77.9	48 of 335	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	93.7	8 of 330	97.6%	★★★★★
2022	68.5	87 of 318	72.6%	★★★★☆
2021	65.7	100 of 330	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.4	43 of 319	86.5%	★★★★☆
2018	78.5	49 of 318	84.6%	★★★★☆
2017	57.1	136 of 315	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.8	128 of 312	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.2	90 of 275	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	67.3	91 of 280	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.8	112 of 278	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	61.6	114 of 265	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	93.3	4 of 264	98.5%	★★★★★
2010	53.3	137 of 254	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	57.4	108 of 240	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	53.6	118 of 223	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	77.4	30 of 225	86.7%	★★★★☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	77.1	35 of 293	88.1%	★★★★☆
2025	35.4	202 of 291	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.2	70 of 305	77.0%	★★★★☆
2023	93.0	11 of 295	96.3%	★★★★★
2022	68.4	66 of 282	76.6%	★★★★☆
2021	59.2	90 of 290	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.1	51 of 282	81.9%	★★★★☆
2018	63.7	78 of 263	70.3%	★★★★☆
2017	88.8	16 of 264	93.9%	★★★★★
2016	69.2	72 of 269	73.2%	★★★★☆
2015	42.7	140 of 267	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	74.3	29 of 268	89.2%	★★★★☆
2013	62.5	79 of 271	70.8%	★★★★☆
2012	42.5	162 of 266	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	37.2	188 of 266	29.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	68.1	47 of 262	82.1%	★★★★☆
2009	48.9	126 of 261	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	73.2	25 of 256	90.2%	★★★★★
2007	71.2	30 of 258	88.4%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Biology60%+17 vs state

Mathematics54%+10 vs state

Geometry50%+24 vs state

Algebra44%+7 vs state

English Language Arts39%~ state avg

Reading39%~ state avg

Science37%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rural Special High 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 Geometry (2026)			ATLAS Science (2026)			ATLAS Biology (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 7th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 9th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 10th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 7th Grade	ATLAS Reading 8th Grade	ATLAS Reading 9th Grade	ATLAS Reading 10th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 7th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 8th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Algebra 9th Grade	ATLAS Algebra All Grades	ATLAS Geometry 9th Grade	ATLAS Geometry 10th Grade	ATLAS Geometry All Grades	ATLAS Science 7th Grade	ATLAS Science 8th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	ATLAS Biology 10th Grade	ATLAS Biology All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Rural Special High School	Public	7-12	13237 Hwy 263	Fox	72051	Stone County	Mountain View School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 363-4365	91	24	3.7	96.7%	86 (94.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	77.1	35^th of 293 public high schools	88.1%		35.4	202^nd of 291 public high schools	30.6%	167	50.0	15.4	41.2		39.3	45.4	23.1	47.0		39.3	59.1	46.2	54.3	43.8	43.8			50.0	50.0	15.4	37.2		60.0	$17,218	$1,406	$15,811
Shirley High School	Public	7-12	201 Blue Devil Drive	Shirley	72153	Van Buren County	Shirley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 518-2223	110	14	7.5	74.5%	103 (93.6%)	2 (1.8%)	2 (1.8%)	2 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	35.3	211^th of 293 public high schools	28.0%		41.8	175^th of 291 public high schools	39.9%	36	21.9	29.4	30.8	38.5	28.0	34.4	29.4	38.5	38.5	34.7	31.3	0.0	20.4	0.0	0.0		8.3	8.3	31.3	23.5	28.6	15.4	13.4	$17,009	$2,743	$14,266
Timbo High School	Public	7-12	23747 Hwy 263 N.	Timbo	72680	Stone County	Mountain View School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 746-4303	99	23	4.2	97.0%	92 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	30.9	228^th of 293 public high schools	22.2%		24.2	239^th of 291 public high schools	17.9%	11	10.6		7.1	27.8	18.6	26.4		0.0	33.4	25.4	36.8		37.0	7.1	7.1		5.6	5.3	31.6		29.6	55.6	55.6	$14,962	$1,072	$13,890
Mountain View High School	Public	9-12	210 High School Dr.	Mountain View	72560	Stone County	Mountain View School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 269-3943	337	57	5.8	99.1%	319 (94.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.8%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.4%)	64	89^th of 293 public high schools	69.6%		70.8	52^nd of 291 public high schools	82.1%	37			42.4	41.0	41.6			48.7	42.1	45.1				15.6	15.6	53.9	15.3	20.9				52.2	51.0	$14,666	$1,529	$13,136
West Side High School	Public	7-12	7295 Greers Ferry Road	Greers Ferry	72067	Cleburne County	WEST SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Cleburne)	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 825-7241	213	38	5.6	100.0%	209 (98.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	71.5	52^nd of 293 public high schools	82.3%		65.8	69^th of 291 public high schools	76.3%	17	54.6	41.4	38.5	41.4	43.9	54.5	41.4	48.7	44.8	47.7	60.6	41.3	51.7	33.3	33.3		16.7	28.5	54.5	55.2	54.9	61.5	59.2	$17,634	$1,636	$15,998
Clinton High School	Public	9-12	489 Yellowjacket Lane	Clinton	72031	Van Buren County	Clinton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 745-6070	390	58	6.6	100.0%	352 (90.3%)	2 (0.5%)	27 (6.9%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	71.8	51^st of 293 public high schools	82.6%		74.4	45^th of 291 public high schools	84.5%	6			42.6	43.8	43.1			46.5	43.8	45.3				35.8	34.4	76.4	16.7	28.9				49.4	49.3	$12,402	$656	$11,746
North Central Career Center	Public	9-12	330 Oak St	Leslie	72645	Searcy County	North Central Career Center	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(870) 447-6111	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Rural Special High School

How many students attend Rural Special High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 91 students attended Rural Special High School.

What schools feed into Rural Special High School?

Rural Special High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Rural Special Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Rural Special High School?

Students at Rural Special High School are 95% White, 4% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

Is Rural Special High School a good school?

Rural Special High School ranks 35^th of 293 Arkansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Rural Special High School in?

Mountain View School District

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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.