North Little Rock Center Of Excellence

North Little Rock Center Of Excellence is a small high school in North Little Rock, AR, serving 472 students in grades 9-12 as part of the North Little Rock School District. This school stands out for its remarkable ability to help students succeed despite serving a 100% economically disadvantaged population, achieving a graduation rate of 92.2% that exceeds the state average and far surpasses the 83.5% rate at the much larger North Little Rock High School on the same campus. The school's dropout rate is exceptionally low at just 1.2%, compared to 5.7% at the main high school, suggesting that its smaller, more focused learning environment makes a significant difference for students.

The school's greatest strength is its 9th-grade program, where students achieve proficiency rates that are nearly double the district average in English Language Arts (64.6% vs. 29.8%) and Reading (75.1% vs. 34.2%). This "Freshman Effect" shows that the school effectively sets students up for success early, though performance drops in 10th grade. Overall, the school outperforms its district in ELA (46.8% vs. 27.4%) and Reading (52% vs. 28.7%), and operates efficiently with a per-student budget of $10,273—significantly less than the $16,410 spent at the main high school. However, math remains a critical weakness, with Algebra proficiency at just 16% and Geometry at 9.6%, well below state averages.

When compared to nearby high-performing charters like Lisa Academy North High School, NLR COE holds its own in ELA and Reading but falls behind in math and science. The school's state ranking has been volatile, bouncing from 1 star to 3 stars over the past four years, which indicates that while it has shown impressive improvement, it still needs to build more consistent performance. For parents seeking a school that prioritizes literacy and graduation success in a supportive, cost-effective environment, this school offers a compelling option within the district.