Summary:
Zip code 71858, serving the Rosston, Arkansas area, is home to two public schools—Nevada Elementary School (grades K-6) and Nevada High School (grades 7-12)—both part of the Nevada School District, where every single student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, highlighting a community facing significant economic challenges.
Nevada Elementary School stands out as the relative bright spot in the area. It has shown a strong upward trend, improving its state ranking from the 26th percentile to the 43rd percentile over three years. Its 4th grade class is particularly impressive, outperforming state averages in English (54.3% proficient vs. 41.4%), math (65.7% vs. 47.0%), and science (54.3% vs. 44.4%). However, a sharp drop in performance occurs after 4th grade—for example, math proficiency falls from 65.7% in 4th grade to just 18.2% in 5th grade—suggesting a possible issue with curriculum or teaching transitions. In contrast, Nevada High School struggles profoundly, especially in math, where 0% of students were proficient in Geometry and only 7.4% in Algebra. Despite this, the high school boasts a very low student-teacher ratio of 6.9:1 and an improving graduation rate, with a dropout rate of just 0.5%.
Overall, the district spends a substantial $14,387 per elementary student and $13,194 per high school student, yet academic outcomes remain below state averages in most subjects. This high spending likely goes toward addressing non-academic needs like poverty and maintaining small class sizes. The elementary school is clearly the stronger performer within the district, outperforming the high school in every subject. The transition from elementary to high school appears to be a critical point of academic decline, making Nevada Elementary the standout choice for families with younger children, while Nevada High School offers strong support for keeping students on track to graduate despite its academic hurdles.
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