Best Public Schools in Zip Code 72024

The two public schools serving zip code 72024 in Carlisle, Arkansas—Carlisle Elementary School (PK-6) and Carlisle High School (7-12)—are part of the Carlisle School District, which serves a community with high economic need, as over 61% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The district invests heavily in its students, with very low student-teacher ratios (11.8:1 at the elementary and 8:1 at the high school) and high per-pupil spending ($15,180 at the elementary and $17,555 at the high school), yet overall academic results are mixed compared to state averages.

Carlisle Elementary School stands out for its exceptional performance in Mathematics, where 6th graders achieved a 68.5% proficiency rate—23.4 points above the state average—and the school’s overall math proficiency of 48.8% is 4.7 points above the state average. This represents a dramatic year-over-year improvement from 25.1% to 48.8%. However, the school struggles significantly in English Language Arts (28.1% proficient) and Science (34.7% proficient), creating a stark "Math vs. Everything Else" divide. In contrast, Carlisle High School shows strength in Biology, with 10th graders scoring 43.1% proficient (8 points above the state average), and boasts a strong 92.0% graduation rate, above the state average of 90.1%. Yet the high school faces a major hurdle in advanced math, with only 33.3% of 8th graders proficient in Algebra compared to the state average of 73.9%, and overall math proficiency dropped from 30.2% to 23.5% year-over-year.

A key takeaway is the "efficiency puzzle": despite high spending and low class sizes, neither school ranks in the top half of Arkansas schools—the elementary is in the 33rd percentile and the high school in the 27th percentile. The 6th grade class at the elementary is a bright spot, outperforming the state average in every subject, suggesting effective instruction that the district could replicate. For parents, Carlisle Elementary School offers a strong math program with notable improvement, while Carlisle High School provides a solid graduation rate and a standout Biology program, but both schools face challenges in core subjects like English and advanced math that families should consider.