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Shirley Elementary School

Q: Is Shirley Elementary School a good school?

Shirley Elementary School ranks 351 st of 495 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

351^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 495 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 29% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Shirley Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 181 students in grades K-6 in Shirley, Arkansas. The school is part of the Shirley School District, which is ranked 193 out of 250 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Shirley Elementary School consistently underperforms the state average in proficiency rates across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (25.5%), Reading (31.1%), Mathematics (28.3%), and Science (28.3%) were all significantly below the state averages of 34.7%, 35.3%, 38.7%, and 38.1%, respectively. The school also has an extremely high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 99.45% to 100% over the past few years, much higher than the state average. However, the school's spending per student, at $11,972 in the 2018-2019 school year, is higher than the state average, and it has a relatively low student-teacher ratio ranging from 11.3 to 12.2 over the past few years.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Mountain View Elementary, Heber Springs Elementary, and West Side Elementary, Shirley Elementary School generally performs worse on standardized tests. The school's performance has also declined over the years, as evidenced by its statewide ranking dropping from 237 out of 488 schools in 2018-2019 to 351 out of 495 schools in 2024-2025. These factors, combined with the school's high poverty rates, suggest that Shirley Elementary School is facing significant challenges in improving student outcomes.

169

Students ?

10.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,064

Per pupil spending ?

85.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1302 Hwy 9 East
Shirley, AR 72153

(501) 518-2223

District: Shirley School District

Students who attend Shirley Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Shirley High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.4%

African American:

1.2%

American Indian:

1.2%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

Compare Shirley Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 56th percentile in 2015 → 29th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (28% vs 36% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 27 percentile points since 2015

!Mathematics scores 10 pts below the Arkansas average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school28%

District avg26%

Arkansas avg36%

351^st of 495

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 29%▼ down 27 pts since 2015

From top 44% (2015) to bottom 29% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

193^rd of 250Shirley 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
2025	33.4	351 of 495	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.0	384 of 497	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.7	351 of 492	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.5	366 of 487	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.4	412 of 496	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	55.6	237 of 488	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.3	278 of 480	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	34.9	343 of 485	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	45.4	297 of 494	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	52.1	204 of 466	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	43.5	322 of 471	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	38.0	354 of 476	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	54.9	255 of 468	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	50.3	279 of 471	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.9	245 of 457	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.3	282 of 445	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	73.6	105 of 439	76.1%	★★★★☆
2007	58.7	200 of 440	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	61.3	175 of 402	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	56.5	204 of 411	50.4%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2024-2025) ?

Reading31%-4 vs state

Mathematics28%-10 vs state

Science28%-10 vs state

English Language Arts26%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Shirley Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2025)					ATLAS Reading (2025)					ATLAS Mathematics (2025)					ATLAS Science (2025)					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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Shirley Elementary School	Public	K-6	1302 Hwy 9 East	Shirley	72153	Van Buren County	Shirley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 518-2223	169	16	10.6	85.2%	163 (96.4%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	33.4	351^st of 495 public elementary schools	29.1%		28	384^th of 497 public elementary schools	22.7%	33	25.9	29.1	24.0	23.3	25.5	29.6	37.5	32.0	26.7	31.1	22.2	25.0	36.0	30.0	28.3	18.5	29.2	36.0	30.0	28.3	$16,064	$3,539	$12,525
Rural Special Elementary School	Public	K-6	13237 Hwy 263	Fox	72051	Stone County	Mountain View School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 363-4365	112	10	11.1	97.3%	106 (94.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	55.6	226^th of 495 public elementary schools	54.3%		48.8	266^th of 497 public elementary schools	46.5%	40	33.4	50.0	35.0	50.0	41.6	28.6	60.0	30.0	42.3	37.7	23.8	40.0	30.0	46.1	35.1	33.3	30.0	30.0	46.2	36.4	$13,354	$1,242	$12,112
West Side Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	7295 Greers Ferry Road	Greers Ferry	72067	Cleburne County	WEST SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Cleburne)	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 825-7744	284	21	13.6	100.0%	274 (96.5%)	2 (0.7%)	6 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	74.6	111^th of 495 public elementary schools	77.6%		60.1	205^th of 497 public elementary schools	58.8%	94	34.3	52.8	53.3	55.9	48.9	31.4	52.8	53.3	44.2	45.2	25.7	41.6	56.6	70.5	48.1	45.7	52.8	53.3	50.0	50.3	$16,715	$3,231	$13,484
Clinton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	852 Yellowjacket Lane	Clinton	72031	Van Buren County	Clinton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 745-6071	553	38	14.5	100.0%	489 (88.4%)	2 (0.4%)	49 (8.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.8%)	71.4	130^th of 495 public elementary schools	73.7%		76.8	99^th of 497 public elementary schools	80.1%	31	40.0	43.1	45.6		42.8	45.3	50.0	53.0		49.4	46.7	43.0	47.1		45.4	52.0	39.5	42.6		44.5	$14,491	$2,973	$11,518
Timbo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	23747 Hwy 263 N.	Timbo	72680	Stone County	Mountain View School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 746-4303	98	9	10.6	96.9%	93 (94.9%)	1 (1.0%)	3 (3.1%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58.1	211^th of 495 public elementary schools	57.4%		51.3	247^th of 497 public elementary schools	50.3%	36	53.9	38.5	31.6	42.1	40.7	46.2	30.8	36.8	36.9	37.5	30.8	69.3	42.1	31.6	42.2	53.9	46.2	36.8	21.1	37.5	$15,108	$2,309	$12,799
South Side Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	334 Southside Road	Bee Branch	72013	Van Buren County	SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT (Van Buren)	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 654-2200	269	20	13.7	98.9%	242 (90.0%)	7 (2.6%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.2%)	61	188^th of 495 public elementary schools	62.0%		57.4	221^st of 497 public elementary schools	55.5%	33	30.7	34.9	37.2	43.3	36.5	26.9	32.5	40.0	43.3	35.8	42.3	62.8	40.0	46.6	49.2	42.3	39.5	45.7	43.3	42.5	$17,270	$2,287	$14,983
Mountain View Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	201 Elementary Dr.	Mountain View	72560	Stone County	Mountain View School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 269-3104	497	34	14.4	99.4%	482 (97.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.8%)	58.1	212^th of 495 public elementary schools	57.2%		77.3	93^rd of 497 public elementary schools	81.3%	119	40.2	37.4			38.9	38.2	36.0			37.2	42.3	36.0			39.5	47.4	40.0			44.2	$14,699	$2,869	$11,829
Heber Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1100 W Pine St	Heber Springs	72543	Cleburne County	Heber Springs School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 362-8155	743	49	15.2	55.2%	661 (89.0%)	5 (0.7%)	39 (5.2%)	3 (0.4%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	30 (4.0%)	84.7	59^th of 495 public elementary schools	88.1%		76.6	100^th of 497 public elementary schools	79.9%	41	46.0	56.2	50.9		51.4	47.1	55.4	51.8		51.6	46.1	57.9	54.7		53.1	49.0	59.6	62.0		57.1	$11,629	$1,378	$10,251

Frequently Asked Questions about Shirley Elementary School

How many students attend Shirley Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 169 students attended Shirley Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Shirley Elementary School?

Students at Shirley Elementary School are 96% White, 1% African American, 1% American Indian.

Is Shirley Elementary School a good school?

Shirley Elementary School ranks 351^st of 495 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Shirley Elementary School in?

Shirley School District

What schools do graduates of Shirley Elementary School attend?

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

High : Shirley High School

Rate Shirley Elementary School!

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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.