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Shirley Elementary School

Q: Is Shirley Elementary School a good school?

Shirley Elementary School ranks 340 th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

340^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 31% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Shirley Elementary School is a small, rural school in Shirley, AR, serving 169 students in grades K-6 within the Shirley School District.

While the school has historically performed below state averages, there is a notable bright spot in its 6th-grade cohort, which achieved proficiency rates of 50% in English Language Arts and Mathematics in the 2025-2026 school year—significantly higher than the state average and competitive with top-performing nearby schools like West Side Elementary School. This success, however, contrasts sharply with lower-grade performance, where 4th-grade proficiency rates were below 18% in the same subjects. This suggests that while students are capable of high achievement, they may face significant challenges in their early elementary years. The school serves a population with very high economic need, with a free/reduced lunch rate that has recently been near 100%, a factor that is common among many nearby schools like Clinton Elementary School and Rural Special Elementary School.

Despite a low student-teacher ratio of 10.6:1—lower than Heber Springs Elementary School (15.2:1) and South Side Elementary School—and per-student spending ($16,064) that is higher than some higher-performing peers, academic outcomes remain below those of neighboring schools. For example, Timbo Elementary School in the Mountain View School District has a similar student-teacher ratio but achieves higher proficiency rates. This indicates that the school’s challenges are not simply a matter of resources, but may relate to how funds are used or the effectiveness of instructional strategies. On a positive note, the school’s test scores have shown slight improvement in recent years, suggesting a potential upward trajectory, though it still has a significant gap to close with higher-performing area schools.

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 — 40th percentile in 2016 → 31st in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (34% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

!Mathematics scores 12 pts below the Arkansas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg32%

Arkansas avg42%

340^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 31%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 40% (2016) to bottom 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

203^rd of 251Shirley 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	35.5	340 of 491	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
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 (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts35%-4 vs state

Reading35%-5 vs state

Science34%-10 vs state

Mathematics32%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Shirley 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
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%)	35.5	340^th of 491 public elementary schools	30.8%		33.4	351^st of 495 public elementary schools	29.1%	11		17.9	32.0	50.0	35.3		17.9	24.0	58.4	35.3		17.9	28.0	50.0	31.8		17.9	32.0	54.2	34.1	$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%)	42.9	296^th of 491 public elementary schools	39.7%		55.6	226^th of 495 public elementary schools	54.3%	70	57.1	47.8		33.3	46.1	50.0	43.4		33.3	42.9	28.5	30.4		33.4	28.6	42.8	34.8		22.3	34.9	$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%)	84.2	56^th of 491 public elementary schools	88.6%		74.6	111^th of 495 public elementary schools	77.6%	55	65.7	63.3	48.2	64.5	60.6	68.7	66.6	41.3	64.5	60.7	72.8	50.0	65.5	54.9	60.9	72.8	46.7	55.1	54.8	57.8	$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%)	68.5	150^th of 491 public elementary schools	69.5%		71.4	130^th of 495 public elementary schools	73.7%	20	58.6	35.1	46.5		46.9	59.8	40.3	51.2		50.6	51.2	53.9	50.0		51.6	64.6	42.1	44.1		50.4	$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%)	33.2	350^th of 491 public elementary schools	28.7%		58.1	211^th of 495 public elementary schools	57.4%	139		50.0	18.2	17.7	29.4		35.7	27.3	29.4	31.4		14.3	36.4	47.0	31.3		42.9	27.3	35.3	35.3	$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%)	57.4	212^th of 491 public elementary schools	56.8%		61	188^th of 495 public elementary schools	62.0%	24	40.0	43.4	32.5	47.0	40.1	37.1	39.1	35.0	52.9	40.9	47.0	47.8	47.5	61.8	51.1	47.0	52.2	40.0	47.0	45.8	$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%)	68.3	152^nd of 491 public elementary schools	69.0%		58.1	212^th of 495 public elementary schools	57.2%	60	49.4	48.9			49.2	49.4	47.8			48.6	55.5	50.0			52.6	50.6	47.9			49.1	$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%)	69.9	141^st of 491 public elementary schools	71.3%		84.7	59^th of 495 public elementary schools	88.1%	82	44.5	43.1	55.6		47.7	42.9	45.0	58.3		48.5	44.4	46.8	60.9		50.6	50.8	55.1	62.6		56.0	$11,629	$1,378	$10,251

Frequently Asked Questions about 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.

What schools do graduates of Shirley Elementary School attend?

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

High : Shirley High School

Is Shirley Elementary School a good school?

Shirley Elementary School ranks 340^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Shirley Elementary School in?

Shirley School District

How many students attend Shirley Elementary School?

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

Rate Shirley Elementary School!

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Latest Arkansas data All new data »

2025–26 ATLAS test scoresJul 13, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2019–20 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 dropout ratesJan 6, 2026

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.