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Ouachita Elementary School

Q: Is Ouachita Elementary School a good school?

Ouachita Elementary School ranks 77 th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

77^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 84% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Ouachita Elementary School in Donaldson, AR, is a small, high-achieving school serving 280 students from Kindergarten through 6th grade, and it is part of the top-ranked Ouachita School District (ranked 20th out of 251 districts in the state). What truly sets this school apart is its exceptional value: it delivers academic results that are roughly double the proficiency rates of nearby schools like Main Street Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School and Oaklawn Stem Magnet School, yet it spends significantly less per student—just $10,903 compared to over $16,000 at those schools. This cost efficiency makes Ouachita a standout, offering top-tier education without the high price tag.

Academically, Ouachita has been a pillar of stability, consistently ranking in the top 20% of Arkansas elementary schools for the past five years. A fascinating highlight is the school's "4th Grade Math Peak," where 4th graders achieved an impressive 71.8% proficiency in math—far exceeding the state average of 47% and outpacing all other grade levels at the school. This suggests a particular strength in their 4th-grade math instruction. While the school has a moderate level of economic disadvantage (57.86% of students receiving free/reduced lunch), it still outperforms schools with similar demographics, such as Magnet Cove Elementary School (59.78% free/reduced lunch), and rivals elite peers like Lakeside Intermediate School, which spends a comparable amount per student.

Interestingly, Ouachita's journey to excellence is a remarkable turnaround story. A decade ago, it ranked in the 53rd percentile, but starting in the 2020-2021 school year, it made a dramatic leap to the 91st percentile and has maintained that high performance ever since. This sustained improvement points to effective leadership and instructional strategies. For parents comparing options, Ouachita offers a compelling mix of consistent, high-level academics and outstanding cost efficiency, making it a smart choice for families in the Donaldson area.

280

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,903

Per pupil spending ?

57.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

332 Schoohouse Road
Donaldson, AR 71941

(501) 384-2341

District: Ouachita School District

Students who attend Ouachita Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Ouachita High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.1%

Two or more races:

2.9%

Hispanic:

0.7%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

Compare Ouachita Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 73rd percentile in 2016 → 84th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arkansas average (56% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Arkansas elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg53%

Arkansas avg42%

77^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Top 16%▲ up 12 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to top 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

20^th of 251Ouachita 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	80.8	77 of 491	84.3%	★★★★☆
2025	78.5	94 of 495	81.0%	★★★★☆
2024	82.5	63 of 497	87.3%	★★★★☆
2023	79.3	81 of 492	83.5%	★★★★☆
2022	85.7	52 of 487	89.3%	★★★★☆
2021	85.4	47 of 496	90.5%	★★★★★
2019	67.3	155 of 488	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.7	172 of 480	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.5	227 of 485	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	66.7	135 of 494	72.7%	★★★★☆
2015	68.4	117 of 466	74.9%	★★★★☆
2014	64.6	156 of 471	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.6	173 of 476	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	64.9	182 of 468	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	58.8	230 of 471	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	59.7	206 of 457	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.4	139 of 445	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	67.8	151 of 439	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	54.7	224 of 440	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	31.8	313 of 402	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	63.9	156 of 411	62.0%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Reading57%+17 vs state

Science57%+13 vs state

Mathematics57%+13 vs state

English Language Arts52%+13 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, October 18, 2021

We have been associated with Ouachita School's for over 50 years and would not go anywhere else!! We love Ouachita and love what they stand for! Close Quote

Schools Near Ouachita Elementary 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 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 All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading 6th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 6th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science 6th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ouachita Elementary School	Public	K-6	332 Schoohouse Road	Donaldson	71941	Hot Spring County	Ouachita School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 384-2341	280	16	17.2	57.9%	269 (96.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.9%)	80.8	77^th of 491 public elementary schools	84.3%		78.5	94^th of 495 public elementary schools	81.0%	17	59.6	48.7	46.1	56.4	52.5	59.6	58.9	51.9	58.9	57.0	55.3	71.8	49.1	53.8	56.7	59.6	59.0	54.7	53.8	56.8	$10,903	$1,373	$9,530
Peake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1609 Pine Street	Arkadelphia	71923	Clark County	Arkadelphia School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 246-2361	783	40	19.5	68.1%	327 (41.8%)	276 (35.2%)	69 (8.8%)	4 (0.5%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	103 (13.2%)	52.5	243^rd of 491 public elementary schools	50.5%		45.8	283^rd of 495 public elementary schools	42.8%	40	46.2	37.0			42.1	48.5	38.0			43.8	49.2	36.1			43.3	47.7	36.1			42.5	$10,525	$1,378	$9,147
Malvern Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1807 W Moline St	Malvern	72104	Hot Spring County	Malvern School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 467-3166	781	46	16.8	76.6%	391 (50.1%)	180 (23.0%)	100 (12.8%)	6 (0.8%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (12.8%)	43.7	287^th of 491 public elementary schools	41.5%		33	353^rd of 495 public elementary schools	28.7%	66	44.0	29.1			36.3	43.2	31.4			37.1	55.2	25.3			39.8	49.6	35.1			42.1	$14,922	$4,783	$10,140
Bismarck Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	11636 Hwy. 84	Bismarck	71929	Hot Spring County	Bismarck School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 865-3616	379	25	15.3	66.5%	344 (90.8%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.7%)	61.8	191^st of 491 public elementary schools	61.1%		66.4	156^th of 495 public elementary schools	68.5%	35	47.8	46.6			47.2	49.2	42.6			45.8	47.8	40.0			43.6	55.2	46.7			50.7	$10,576	$1,696	$8,880
Lakeside Intermediate School	Public	2-4	2855 Malvern Ave	Hot Springs	71901	Garland County	LAKESIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Garland)	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 262-2332	721	44	16.4	49.5%	479 (66.4%)	40 (5.5%)	98 (13.6%)	11 (1.5%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	89 (12.3%)	77.7	95^th of 491 public elementary schools	80.7%		74	118^th of 495 public elementary schools	76.2%	23	48.7	52.1			50.4	50.5	49.6			50.0	70.8	64.6			67.7	52.5	56.6			54.6	$10,930	$990	$9,940
Lakeside Primary School	Public	PK, KG-1	2841 Malvern	Hot Springs	71901	Garland County	LAKESIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Garland)	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 262-1921	583	30	19.1	50.8%	368 (63.1%)	37 (6.3%)	91 (15.6%)	17 (2.9%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	65 (11.1%)								(n/a)																					$14,895	$2,036	$12,859
Magnet Cove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	22083 Hwy 51	Malvern	72104	Hot Spring County	Magnet Cove School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 337-9131	368	22	17.0	59.8%	330 (89.7%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.2%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.8%)	59.7	198^th of 491 public elementary schools	59.7%		59.5	201^st of 495 public elementary schools	59.4%	3	50.0	38.2	44.0	47.4	44.7	44.2	40.0	46.0	42.1	43.0	46.2	47.2	44.0	50.0	46.7	48.1	43.6	40.0	57.9	46.7	$12,103	$1,327	$10,776
Main Street Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	301 Oaklawn Boulevard	Hot Springs	71913	Garland County	Hot Springs School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(501) 623-2661	647	41	15.9	99.8%	191 (29.5%)	251 (38.8%)	114 (17.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	87 (13.4%)	29	381^st of 491 public elementary schools	22.4%		15.2	446^th of 495 public elementary schools	9.9%	65	25.8	30.9	22.8	34.1	28.4	25.8	32.4	26.3	38.5	30.7	30.3	32.4	40.0	39.6	35.7	25.0	32.3	41.7	26.4	31.0	$15,720	$3,974	$11,746
Oaklawn Stem Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	525 Hammond Lane	Hot Springs	71913	Garland County	Hot Springs School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(501) 620-7822	452	26	17.1	100.0%	164 (36.3%)	141 (31.2%)	97 (21.5%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (9.7%)	25	400^th of 491 public elementary schools	18.5%		25.5	384^th of 495 public elementary schools	22.4%	16	31.2	28.6	20.0	17.7	24.6	32.8	30.0	23.6	24.2	27.9	32.8	41.5	27.3	27.4	32.7	27.9	45.7	23.6	32.2	33.1	$16,119	$4,039	$12,080
Cutter-Morning Star Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2801 Spring Street	Hot Springs	71901	Garland County	Cutter Morning Star School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 262-2414	357	20	17.9	78.4%	247 (69.2%)	8 (2.2%)	44 (12.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (14.6%)	48.7	265^th of 491 public elementary schools	46.0%		49.9	260^th of 495 public elementary schools	47.5%	5	41.2	51.9	34.9	36.1	41.9	37.2	46.3	27.9	36.1	37.5	56.8	51.9	16.3	33.4	41.3	51.0	51.8	23.3	30.5	40.8	$14,451	$4,518	$9,933

Frequently Asked Questions about Ouachita Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Ouachita Elementary School attend?

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

High : Ouachita High School

How many students attend Ouachita Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 280 students attended Ouachita Elementary School.

Is Ouachita Elementary School a good school?

Ouachita Elementary School ranks 77^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Ouachita Elementary School?

Students at Ouachita Elementary School are 96% White, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Ouachita Elementary School in?

Ouachita School District

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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.