Westside Elementary School

Westside Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Hartman, Arkansas, serving 275 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Westside School District (Johnson), which is ranked 205 out of 250 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Westside Elementary School consistently ranks in the bottom half of Arkansas elementary schools, with a ranking between 360-447 out of 487-497 schools over the past 9 years. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state average across all subjects and grade levels, with proficiency rates ranging from 29.3% to 33.8% in 2024-2025, compared to the state averages of 34.7% to 38.7%. The school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 98.91% to 100% over the past 3 years, indicates that it serves a predominantly low-income student population, which can be a significant factor in academic performance. Additionally, the school's student-teacher ratio has been relatively high, ranging from 14 to 15.2 over the past 3 years, compared to the state average of around 13-14 students per teacher.

In comparison, the nearby County Line Elementary School, Oark Elementary School, and Lamar Elementary School generally perform better academically, with higher rankings and test scores. These schools serve student populations with lower percentages of free or reduced-price lunch recipients, ranging from 52% to 99.01%, and have lower student-teacher ratios, ranging from 9.4 to 17.6. While Westside Elementary School's per-student spending is comparable to its peers, the school's academic performance remains significantly lower, suggesting that factors beyond funding, such as instructional practices, teacher quality, and school leadership, may be contributing to the school's challenges.