Summary:
Zip code 71957, serving the Mount Ida area of Arkansas, is home to two public schools within the Mount Ida School District, which holds a 2-star rating and ranks 140th out of 251 districts in the state.
Bobby Barrett Elementary School (grades K-6, 218 students) stands out for its strong academic performance, particularly in Mathematics. The school achieved a 53.4% math proficiency rate, well above the state average of 44.1%, and its 6th grade class posted an exceptional 74.1% proficiency. This represents a dramatic 24-point improvement from the previous year. The school also excels in Science (50% proficiency vs. 44% state average) and serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (81.19% free/reduced lunch) compared to the high school. In contrast, Mount Ida High School (grades 7-12, 202 students) boasts a strong graduation rate of 90.2% and an extremely low dropout rate of 0.4%, despite struggling academically. Its overall math proficiency is 37.1%, and English Language Arts proficiency is just 23.9%—far below the state average of 39.4%. The high school benefits from a very low student-teacher ratio of 4.9:1 and higher per-student spending ($17,099 vs. $14,043 at the elementary school).
A key takeaway is the "resource paradox": Mount Ida High School has more resources and smaller class sizes yet significantly lower test scores, suggesting challenges beyond funding, such as cumulative learning gaps. The elementary school's remarkable math turnaround indicates effective instructional changes, while the high school's low ELA proficiency (especially 11.4% in 7th grade) is a critical concern. Overall, families should note the strong elementary academics and the high school's success in keeping students enrolled and graduating, despite academic hurdles.
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