Summary:
The two public schools serving zip code 72064 in Hazen, Arkansas, are Hazen Elementary School (PK-6) and Hazen High School (7-12), both part of the Hazen School District, which is ranked in the bottom 15% of Arkansas districts. The district serves a high-poverty population, with over 72% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and spends significantly above the state average at over $14,000 per student.
Hazen Elementary School stands out as the stronger school in the area, showing an upward trend in its ranking from a 1-star to a 2-star rating. Its 6th grade is a clear bright spot, with 48.6% of students proficient in English Language Arts—nearly 8 points above the state average. In contrast, Hazen High School has a strong 93% graduation rate and a low 3% dropout rate, but its overall academic scores are much lower. The high school does have pockets of success, particularly in 10th grade Reading (44.8% proficient) and Biology (48.2% proficient), both exceeding state averages.
A major concern across the district is a systemic weakness in mathematics, where no grade level meets the state average. The problem is most severe at the high school, where 0% of 10th graders scored proficient in Geometry and only 12.9% in Algebra. There is also a clear pattern of declining performance as students age, with elementary students starting closer to state averages but falling further behind by middle and high school. The high spending combined with low results suggests a need to review how resources are used to improve instruction, especially in math.
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