Summary:
In zip code 71720, there is one elementary school, Bearden Elementary School, serving grades Kindergarten through 6th grade in the rural community of Bearden, Arkansas.
Bearden Elementary School is a school on a strong upward trajectory, with its state ranking improving significantly from the 26th percentile to the 36th percentile over the last three years, earning a 2-star rating. The school outperforms its district, the Bearden School District, in every core subject. The most impressive finding is the dramatic year-over-year academic improvement from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, with proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics each jumping by 49%, and Science proficiency increasing by 65%. This rapid progress suggests recent instructional changes are having a positive impact. However, Science remains a critical weakness, with only 29.6% of students proficient compared to the state average of 44.0%. The school serves a highly economically disadvantaged population, with 98.63% of students receiving free or reduced lunch.
Despite spending $13,742 per student and maintaining a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.2:1, the school's proficiency rates are below state averages in all subjects. This indicates that while resources are being allocated, the high level of economic disadvantage presents significant challenges. The 4th grade cohort is a relative strength, exceeding state averages in both English Language Arts and Reading. The recent upward trend in scores is a positive sign that the school's investments may be starting to pay off, making Bearden Elementary School a school to watch for continued improvement.
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