Chenal Elementary School

Chenal Elementary School is a high-performing public school in Little Rock, AR, serving 448 students in grades K-5 within the affluent western corridor of the Pulaski County Special School District. For nearly a decade, Chenal has consistently ranked in the top 5% of all elementary schools in Arkansas, with a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.9:1 and a low free/reduced lunch rate of 27.5%, indicating a student body with fewer economic barriers to learning.

Chenal’s standout strength is its exceptional English Language Arts and Reading program, particularly in 5th grade, where 68.8% of students were proficient in ELA and 66.7% in Reading in the 2025-2026 school year—far exceeding the state averages of 40.9% and 41.1%. However, the school saw a notable dip in its 2025-2026 ranking, dropping to a 4-star rating and the 80th percentile, with math proficiency falling from 72.8% to 49.5%. This decline may be linked to a new ATLAS exam, but it’s a trend worth monitoring. Interestingly, nearby Don Roberts Elementary School in the Little Rock School District outperformed Chenal in every subject in the same year, despite a slightly higher free/reduced lunch rate of 30.6% and a much larger enrollment of 1,035 students.

Chenal’s success is not tied to higher spending—it spent $14,785 per student in 2023-2024, less than struggling schools like McDermott Elementary School ($20,488) and Terry Elementary School ($18,106). Instead, its performance is likely driven by strong community support and a stable student body. While Chenal remains a crown jewel of its district, with test scores roughly double the district average, the competitive landscape includes elite options like Don Roberts, making it one of several premier elementary choices in Central Arkansas.