Summary:
Zip code 71960 in Norman, Arkansas, is home to two public schools within the Caddo Hills School District, serving a combined 585 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a high-poverty area where over 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Caddo Academy stands out as the top-performing school in the zip code, having jumped from a 3-star to a 4-star rating in just two years, now ranking in the 77th percentile statewide. It boasts a strong 91.1% graduation rate and excels in math, with 49.4% of all students proficient compared to the state average of 44.1%. The school also benefits from a favorable student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1, suggesting more individualized attention. In contrast, Caddo Hills Elementary School is a solid 3-star school that outperforms the state in all four core subjects—English, reading, math, and science—despite having a higher student-teacher ratio of 13.8:1. A notable "4th grade peak" phenomenon sees 4th graders achieving 60.8% proficiency in English and 62.7% in math, far exceeding state averages, while 6th graders experience a dip, falling below state levels in several subjects.
Overall, the district demonstrates a clear academic split: the elementary school excels in foundational literacy skills, while the high school shines in advanced math and science. Both schools achieve above-average results despite serving a high-poverty population, reflecting effective teaching and resource allocation. The elementary school spends $12,639 per student, while the high school's spending data is older, making direct comparisons difficult. For parents, this area offers a strong educational foundation with a standout high school that shows impressive upward momentum and a elementary school that consistently beats state benchmarks.
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