Summary:
This analysis examines four middle schools in the 71901 zip code of Hot Springs, Arkansas, serving grades 5 through 9 across three districts: Hot Springs School District, Lakeside School District (Garland), and Fountain Lake School District.
The standout performer is Lakeside Junior High School, ranked in the 88th percentile statewide with 4-5 star ratings and proficiency rates exceeding state averages in all core subjects, including an exceptional 90.2% in Algebra. Its feeder, Lakeside Middle School, also posts the highest math proficiency (71.4%) in the zip code. In stark contrast, Hot Springs Junior Academy is the most challenged, ranking in the 28th percentile with a 1-star rating and test scores consistently below state averages. Fountain Lake Middle School has experienced a dramatic decline, dropping from the 65th to the 31st percentile over three years.
A key finding is that spending does not equal success: Hot Springs Junior Academy spends the most per student ($13,080) yet achieves the lowest scores, while Lakeside Junior High spends less ($9,518) and excels. The Lakeside schools form a powerful pipeline with lower poverty rates (44-47% free/reduced lunch) compared to Hot Springs Junior Academy's 99.88%. An outlier is Hot Springs Junior Academy's Biology proficiency (72.2%), far exceeding the state average (42.7%), suggesting a potential area for replication. Algebra performance also highlights the divide, with Lakeside Junior High at 90.2% proficiency versus Hot Springs Junior Academy's 15.8% in 9th-grade Algebra.
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