Summary:
In zip code 72110, Morrilton, Arkansas, there are two elementary schools—Morrilton Primary School (serving grades PK-1) and Morrilton Elementary School (serving grades 2-3)—both part of the South Conway County School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 62nd percentile among Arkansas districts.
Morrilton Elementary School stands out as the only school with measurable test scores, showing a strong upward trend: its state ranking jumped from the 36th percentile to the 52nd percentile, earning a 3-star rating. Its math performance is exceptional, with 55.7% of students proficient—11.6 percentage points above the state average. However, reading and ELA proficiency lag slightly below state averages at 38.6% and 40.8%, respectively. In contrast, Morrilton Primary School serves a high-poverty population (81.94% free/reduced lunch) and spends $15,841 per student—$3,680 more than the elementary school—yet has a higher student-teacher ratio of 22.2:1 compared to 16:1 at the elementary school. This suggests the primary school’s spending goes toward support staff and early childhood programs rather than smaller class sizes.
A key takeaway is the potential "transition dip" in literacy: while primary school has no test scores, by 2nd and 3rd grade, students struggle in reading and ELA, indicating foundational skills may not fully carry over. The missing free/reduced lunch data for the elementary school is notable, but given the primary school’s 82% poverty rate, the elementary likely serves a similarly high-need population, making its math success and ranking improvement even more impressive. Overall, the district provides a solid educational pipeline, with math as a clear bright spot and reading as an area for growth.
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