Summary:
In zip code 72016, there is one elementary school, Anne Watson Elementary School, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade in Bigelow, Arkansas, with a total enrollment of 357 students.
Anne Watson Elementary School has achieved a remarkable turnaround, jumping from a 2-star rating in the 2024-2025 school year to a 4-star rating in 2025-2026, moving from the 46th percentile to the 75th percentile in state rankings. The school is part of the high-performing East End School District, which ranks in the top 16% of all Arkansas districts. Despite serving a population where over 72% of students are economically disadvantaged, the school now outperforms the state average in all core subjects, with mathematics being a particular strength at 65% proficiency compared to the state's 44.1%. The student-teacher ratio is 15.4:1, and spending per student is $11,368.
While overall scores are strong, performance varies by grade level. Third graders are exceptional, with 82.2% proficiency in English Language Arts and 83.9% in Reading, nearly double the state average. However, 5th and 6th grades show a dip, with 5th grade ELA proficiency at 37.5% (below the state average of 40.9%) and 6th grade Reading at 34.3% (below the state average of 41.7%). This suggests the school excels in early elementary grades but faces challenges maintaining gains in upper grades, though mathematics remains a consistent strength across all levels.
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