Summary:
Zip code 71638 in Dermott, Arkansas, is home to three schools serving approximately 305 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, all operating within a context of profound economic disadvantage where 100% of students at two schools qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The standout school in the area is Dermott High School, which has shown remarkable improvement by jumping from the 5th percentile to the 45th percentile in state rankings over two years, earning it a 2-star rating—the highest in the zip code. This school serves grades 7-12 with 139 students and leads in English Language Arts proficiency at 35.7%, though it struggles significantly in mathematics (15.3% proficient) and science (26.6%), all well below state averages. A bright spot is its 9th graders, who outperformed the state in both English and Reading. In contrast, Dermott Elementary School serves 150 students in grades PK-6 and reports 31.6% proficiency in English and 20% in math, with a student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1. The Arkansas Consolidated High School-Dermott, part of the Division of Youth Services School System, is a specialized facility for just 16 students in grades 9-12, where academic proficiency is virtually non-existent (0% in Reading) and the focus is likely on stabilization and transition.
Key takeaways include a systemic "math crisis" across the district, with 8th graders at Dermott High School scoring only 6.3% proficient. Despite high per-student spending—$22,192 at the elementary and $19,548 at the high school—academic outcomes remain low, highlighting the profound impact of poverty. The Dermott School District faces significant challenges, but the rapid turnaround at Dermott High School offers a compelling narrative of potential improvement worth watching.
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