Summary:
The three public schools in zip code 71949, serving the Jessieville School District in Jessieville, Arkansas, form a complete K-12 pipeline with a total enrollment of 791 students, and they present a compelling story of academic contrast despite a student population where over 98% are eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Jessieville Elementary School is the clear standout, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 91st percentile statewide. Its math proficiency rate of 78.6% nearly doubles the state average of 44.1%, and its ELA proficiency of 54.1% is 15 points above the state norm. This performance is remarkable given the school's 99.15% free/reduced lunch rate. In contrast, Jessieville High School is the most challenged, ranking in the 49th percentile with only 24.5% of students proficient in Algebra and 35.3% in ELA, yet it maintains a strong 94.7% graduation rate. Jessieville Middle School sits in the middle, improving to a 4-star rating and the 73rd percentile, with a notable strength in advanced math where 87.6% of 8th graders taking Algebra were proficient.
The most significant finding is a dramatic academic drop-off as students progress through the district. The elementary school is a 5-star powerhouse, the middle school is a solid 4-star, and the high school is a 3-star. This "leaky pipeline" is most evident in math, where proficiency plummets from 78.6% in elementary to 38.6% in middle school and just 24.5% in high school. Additionally, the middle school has the highest per-student spending ($14,158) but does not achieve the best outcomes, while the elementary school has the lowest spending ($12,448) and the best results. The district's core challenge is to replicate the elementary school's effective strategies across all grade levels to ensure a strong finish for all students.
Thank you for your feedback!