Ozark Upper Elementary School

Ozark Upper Elementary School serves 251 students in grades 4 and 5 within the Ozark School District, a mid-tier district in the state. The school has historically earned solid 3-star ratings, but its most recent data shows a significant drop to a 2-star rating, ranking in the 45th percentile—a steep decline from the 68th percentile the previous year. About 63% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic disadvantage.

The most striking finding is the performance gap between grade levels. In the latest testing, 5th graders dramatically outperformed 4th graders across all subjects, with a 15.6 percentage point gap in math (51.9% vs. 36.3% proficient) and a 14.2 point gap in English Language Arts (47.3% vs. 33.1%). This pattern is unique among nearby schools; for example, at Clarksville Intermediate School, 4th and 5th grade scores are much closer. Additionally, Ozark Upper’s 5th graders actually outperformed the state average in reading, English, and math, showing the school’s capacity for strong results. However, science remains a consistent weakness, with only 32.6% proficient compared to the state average of 44%.

The school’s primary feeder, Elgin B Milton Primary School, excels in math (58.2% proficient), but that strength doesn’t carry over to Ozark Upper’s 4th graders, who score well below the state average in math. This transition point may need attention. The school also has a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 18.1 and spends $11,715 per student—less than several nearby schools with similar poverty levels, such as Paris Elementary School ($13,958). While the 5th-grade team appears to be a bright spot, the school faces clear challenges in replicating that success across all grades and subjects.