Summary:
In zip code 71832 (De Queen, Arkansas), there are two elementary schools serving grades K-5 within the highly-rated De Queen School District, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the top 75th percentile of Arkansas districts.
Dequeen Elementary School (grades 3-5) is the standout school in this area, consistently exceeding state averages across all subjects despite serving a population where 81.9% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. In the 2025-2026 school year, the school achieved proficiency rates of 48.9% in ELA, 50.1% in Reading, 59.4% in Math, and 53.2% in Science—all significantly above state averages. Mathematics is a particular strength, with a 15.3 percentage point advantage over the state average, and the school has shown impressive year-over-year growth, including a 9.8 percentage point jump in Reading proficiency. Dequeen Primary (grades K-2) serves as the foundational feeder school with a slightly lower student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1 compared to Dequeen Elementary's 16.4:1, which is beneficial for early learning. Both schools are nearly identical in size, with Dequeen Elementary enrolling 558 students and Dequeen Primary enrolling 555 students.
The most compelling finding is that Dequeen Elementary achieves well above state averages despite high economic disadvantage, suggesting effective instructional strategies and support systems. The district's cohesive educational pipeline—from Dequeen Primary's strong foundation to Dequeen Elementary's excellent results—creates a seamless K-5 experience. Per-student spending is slightly higher at Dequeen Elementary ($12,305) than at Dequeen Primary ($11,683), and the school has maintained a stable state ranking in the 73rd to 76th percentile over the last three years. For parents, this area offers two well-performing elementary schools that together provide a strong, consistent educational pathway from kindergarten through fifth grade.
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