Summary:
Zip code 71759, serving the Norphlet, Arkansas area, is home to two public schools—Smackover Elementary School (grades PK-4) and Norphlet Middle School (grades 5-8)—both part of the Smackover Norphlet School District, which ranks in the 64th percentile statewide and holds a 3-star rating.
Smackover Elementary School is the standout in this area, showing a remarkable upward trajectory. Its state ranking jumped from the 47th to the 67th percentile in just two years, and it now outperforms both the district and state averages in every subject. For example, 4th graders achieved a 60.9% proficiency rate in mathematics, well above the state average. The school also posted massive year-over-year gains, with English Language Arts proficiency rising from 33.9% to 49.1%. In contrast, Norphlet Middle School has stagnated, hovering around the 38th-46th percentile. It shows a puzzling "6th grade slump," where 6th graders consistently underperform the state average in every subject, while 5th graders significantly exceed it. Overall, the elementary school's average proficiency (49.4%) is notably higher than the middle school's (42.1%), which matches the state average of 42.0%.
Resource allocation also differs: Smackover Elementary spends $14,530 per student, $2,451 more than Norphlet Middle School's $12,079, yet the elementary school has a higher student-teacher ratio (17.8 vs. 13.9). This suggests the elementary school's success stems from factors like effective teaching strategies or leadership rather than class size. Both schools serve a high proportion of economically disadvantaged students, with over 56% qualifying for free/reduced lunch. The district's key challenge will be replicating the elementary school's successful practices at the middle school to address the performance drop-off, particularly in 6th grade.
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