Summary:
In zip code 72113, which covers the Maumelle and North Little Rock areas of Arkansas, there are three middle schools serving grades 4 through 8, offering a stark contrast in academic performance and school environments.
Maumelle Charter Middle School is the standout performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 90th percentile statewide. It significantly outperforms its peers in all core subjects, with 60.4% of students proficient in math compared to just 15.5% at Maumelle Middle School and 22.6% at Westwind School For Performing Arts. Notably, Maumelle Charter achieves these results despite having the largest class sizes (20.4:1 student-teacher ratio) and a lower percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (26.36%). In contrast, Maumelle Middle School has received a 1-star rating for three consecutive years, with proficiency rates roughly half the state average, indicating a systemic performance crisis. Westwind School For Performing Arts, while also rated 1-star, shows a unique strength in 8th-grade science, where 52.4% of students are proficient, exceeding the state average of 42.9%.
The data reveals an inverse relationship between resources and results: both Pulaski County Special School District's Maumelle Middle and Westwind School For Performing Arts spend over $15,000 per student and have smaller class sizes, yet their academic outcomes lag far behind Maumelle Charter, which is part of Academics Plus Public Charter Schools. The "Algebra gap" is particularly telling: 66.7% of Maumelle Charter students taking Algebra are proficient, versus only 17.1% at Maumelle Middle and 11.1% at Westwind. This suggests that school culture, curriculum, and socioeconomic factors—rather than just spending—are key drivers of success in this area.
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