Strong-Huttig Schools

Strong-Huttig Schools in Strong, AR, is a small, rural K-12 public school serving 284 students within the Strong Huttig School District, where nearly all families face economic challenges, with a free/reduced lunch rate of 94.7%.

This school stands out for its high investment per student—spending $16,774 per student, well above the state average—and an exceptionally low student-to-teacher ratio of 8.6 to 1, which is roughly half the state average. These resources suggest a strong potential for individualized attention. However, academic proficiency rates are significantly below state averages, with only 12% of students proficient in Mathematics compared to 44.1% statewide, and 15.4% in English Language Arts versus 39.4% statewide. A particularly concerning trend is a sharp drop in performance during middle school, with 0% of 7th and 8th graders proficient in Math, indicating a critical area for improvement. The graduation rate has also been volatile, recently falling to 78.1%, which is 12 points below the state average.

Despite these challenges, there is a notable bright spot: in Geometry, 31.6% of students were proficient, outperforming the state average by 10 percentage points. This success suggests that targeted interventions can work. There are no other schools within 20 miles for direct comparison, but the school’s high spending and low class sizes are unique assets that, if paired with effective strategies, could help overcome the profound effects of community-wide poverty. For parents, this school offers a close-knit environment with dedicated resources, but it is actively working to improve academic outcomes, especially in middle school math.