Summary:
In zip code 72064, there is one high school, Hazen High School, serving grades 7 through 12 in the small, rural community of Hazen, Arkansas, with a total enrollment of 229 students.
Hazen High School presents a mixed picture for parents. On the positive side, the school boasts a strong graduation rate of 93%, above the state average, and a very favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.2:1, suggesting small class sizes. However, academic proficiency in core subjects is a significant concern. While the school showed dramatic improvement between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years—with Science proficiency more than doubling from 12.3% to 28.7% and Biology proficiency jumping from 17.7% to 48.2%—most scores remain below state averages. For instance, in 2025-2026, only 18.7% of students were proficient in English Language Arts and 28.6% in Mathematics, compared to state averages of 36.9% and 36.9% respectively. A critical red flag is the 0% proficiency rate in Geometry, indicating a fundamental issue with instruction or student preparedness in that subject. The school spends $14,750 per student, which is high, yet outcomes lag, suggesting that resources may not be effectively addressing the needs of a student body where 72% qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The most notable finding is the "Biology Paradox": the school excels in Biology (48.2% proficient) while struggling in other STEM areas, hinting at a possible standout teacher or curriculum. Additionally, the gap between the high graduation rate and low proficiency rates suggests students may be advancing without mastering grade-level material. The school's state ranking has been volatile, dropping to the 14th percentile in 2024-2025 before recovering to the 25th percentile in 2025-2026. For parents, Hazen High School offers a supportive environment with small classes, but academic performance, particularly in math, requires close attention and likely targeted intervention.
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