Summary:
The three public schools in zip code 72011, serving the Bauxite School District in Bauxite, Arkansas, educate approximately 1,717 students from elementary through high school, with the district earning a 2-star rating and ranking in the 48th percentile statewide.
Bauxite Middle School is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 79th percentile—far outperforming its peers. It exceeds state averages in every core subject, particularly in Mathematics (57.6% proficient vs. 44.2% state) and Science (60.6% vs. 44.1% state). In contrast, Pine Haven Elementary School and Bauxite High School both hold 2-star ratings and lag behind state averages. Bauxite High School shows a troubling downward trend, dropping from the 66th percentile to the 34th percentile over three years, with only 14.4% of students proficient in Algebra and 21.8% in Geometry. Despite this, the high school boasts a strong 94.4% graduation rate and an exceptionally low 0.1% dropout rate.
A key finding is that spending does not correlate with performance. Bauxite High School receives the highest per-student funding ($10,607) and has the smallest class sizes (9.9:1), yet it struggles academically. Meanwhile, Bauxite Middle School, the highest performer, receives the least funding ($8,892) and has the largest class sizes (18.6:1). This suggests that factors like instructional quality and school culture drive success at the middle school. Additionally, a "middle school peak" pattern emerges: 8th graders at Bauxite Middle School achieve 50% proficiency in Mathematics, but 9th graders at the high school taking Algebra score only 14.6% proficient, indicating a difficult transition or curriculum misalignment between the schools.
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