Summary:
The Foreman School District in zip code 71836 (Foreman, Arkansas) serves 487 students across two schools: Oscar Hamilton Elementary School (grades K-6) and Foreman High School (grades 7-12).
Oscar Hamilton Elementary School is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 76th percentile of Arkansas elementary schools. It consistently outperforms state averages, particularly in science where 66.9% of students are proficient compared to the state's 44%. The school also shows impressive growth, with English Language Arts proficiency rising from 41.1% in 3rd grade to 71.9% in 6th grade. In contrast, Foreman High School presents significant challenges. Despite spending $3,285 more per student and having a much lower student-teacher ratio (6.4:1 vs. 14.1:1), its academic performance is below state averages. The high school's ranking dropped from the 67th percentile to the 41st percentile, resulting in a 2-star rating. However, it does boast a strong graduation rate of 92.3%, above the state average of 90.1%.
The most critical finding is a dramatic "9th grade cliff" at Foreman High School. In 8th grade, 50% of students are proficient in English Language Arts and 55.6% in Reading, but by 9th grade, those numbers plummet to 8.8% and 17.6%, respectively. This suggests a systemic breakdown in the transition to high school-level work. The Foreman School District overall is ranked 76th out of 251 in Arkansas (70th percentile) with a 4-star rating, but this rating is likely buoyed entirely by the elementary school's performance, masking the high school's struggles. Parents should note that while the elementary school excels at building foundational skills, the high school faces significant academic hurdles that require immediate attention.
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