Linda Childers Knapp Elementary School

Linda Childers Knapp Elementary School is a PK-5 public school in the Springdale School District serving 607 students in a high-poverty area of Springdale, AR, where nearly 89% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Knapp Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Arkansas elementary schools over the past three years, earning a 1-star rating. While the school has shown some year-over-year improvement, its overall proficiency rates (27.1% in English, 28.3% in math, and 23.4% in science) remain significantly below both the district and state averages. The most striking finding is a severe drop in performance between 3rd and 4th grade—what might be called a "4th-grade slump." For example, 3rd graders scored 35.5% proficient in English, but 4th graders scored only 14.7%. This pattern is consistent across all subjects and is the most dramatic decline among nearby schools. Interestingly, Knapp spends a high amount per student ($14,680), the second-highest among comparable schools, yet this investment has not translated into academic success.

Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope in 3rd grade, where scores are much closer to the district average, suggesting early instruction may be effective. The school also has clear opportunities to learn from nearby schools serving similar populations. For instance, Turnbow Elementary (1.85 miles away) and John Tyson Elementary (2.29 miles away) achieve significantly better results—with Tyson scoring nearly double Knapp's proficiency rates—despite serving similarly high-poverty communities. This disparity points to factors like school leadership and teaching strategies that could be replicated. Knapp is part of a cluster of low-performing schools in this area of Springdale, but it is not the lowest, as Jones Elementary and George Elementary rank even lower. The key takeaway for parents is that Knapp faces significant challenges, particularly in 4th and 5th grades, but has potential for improvement by learning from successful nearby schools.