Summary:
The two elementary schools in zip code 72103 (Mabelvale, AR)—Chicot Elementary School and Mabelvale Elementary School—serve grades PK-5 and K-5 respectively, and are part of the Little Rock School District, which ranks in the bottom third of Arkansas districts.
Both schools face significant academic challenges, but Chicot Elementary stands out as the higher-performing option within this zip code. Chicot consistently outperforms Mabelvale in every subject and grade level tested. For example, in the most recent school year, Chicot’s overall English Language Arts proficiency (21.1%) was 54% higher than Mabelvale’s (13.7%), and its math proficiency (22.1%) nearly doubled Mabelvale’s (13.1%). Chicot also spends significantly more per student ($20,281 versus $15,857), which may contribute to its relatively better outcomes. However, both schools remain well below state averages (39.4% in ELA, 44.1% in math). Mabelvale Elementary is particularly concerning, ranking in the 1st percentile of all Arkansas elementary schools—among the very lowest in the state—and showing a dramatic "5th grade cliff" where reading proficiency drops from 27% in 3rd grade to just 4.3% by 5th grade.
Both schools serve student populations that are almost entirely economically disadvantaged (over 99% free/reduced lunch eligibility), a powerful contextual factor that strongly correlates with low test scores. While Chicot’s state ranking has shown slight improvement over time, Mabelvale’s has remained consistently in the bottom 5%. The data suggests that despite higher spending at Chicot, both schools are grappling with the challenges of high-poverty communities, and the academic support systems in place are not yet bridging the achievement gap with the rest of the state.
Thank you for your feedback!