Summary:
The six public schools in zip code 71964 (Pearcy, AR) are all part of the highly-rated Lake Hamilton School District, which ranks 14th out of 251 districts in Arkansas and serves students from Pre-K through 12th grade across a centralized campus on "Wolf Street."
The district's standout performer is Lake Hamilton High School, a 5-star school ranked 21st in the state with a strong 87.4% graduation rate, though it spends the most per student at $15,220. In contrast, Lake Hamilton Intermediate School (grades 4-5) is the most consistent overachiever, posting test scores above both district and state averages in all subjects despite having the lowest per-student spending ($10,637). Lake Hamilton Junior High School (grades 8-9) excels in math and science, with a 64.3% math proficiency rate, but shows a notable weakness in Biology (25% vs. 42.7% state average). The district also includes Lake Hamilton Primary School (PK-1), Lake Hamilton Elementary School (2-3), and Lake Hamilton Middle School (6-7), all of which contribute to a total enrollment of about 3,945 students.
Despite a high percentage of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch (ranging from 60.58% to 74.05% across schools), the district consistently outperforms state averages, indicating an effective and resilient school system. A key finding is the significant year-over-year improvement from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, with schools like Lake Hamilton High School and Lake Hamilton Elementary showing dramatic jumps in ELA proficiency (e.g., from 31.9% to 47.8% at the high school). This suggests recent successful interventions are driving academic gains, making the district a compelling choice for families seeking strong educational outcomes in a community with notable economic needs.
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