Best Public Schools in Zip Code 72114

Zip code 72114 in North Little Rock, Arkansas, is home to four public schools within the North Little Rock School District, serving two high schools and two elementary schools, all of which face extreme economic disadvantage with free/reduced lunch rates at or near 100%.

The standout performer in this area is North Little Rock Center Of Excellence, a high school that achieves a 3-star rating and ranks in the 55th percentile statewide, far exceeding its sister school North Little Rock High School which ranks much lower. The Center of Excellence boasts a 92.2% graduation rate and strong English Language Arts and Reading proficiency rates that surpass state averages, while North Little Rock High School has an 83.5% graduation rate and proficiency rates roughly half the state average. Both high schools share the same address, highlighting the profound impact of school programming on outcomes. In contrast, the elementary schools are in crisis: Seventh Street Elementary School ranks dead last in Arkansas (491st out of 491), and Boone Park Elementary School ranks 487th, with proficiency rates in the single digits and low teens across subjects.

A striking finding is that spending does not correlate with success: Seventh Street Elementary spends the most per student ($20,227) yet achieves the worst results, while the Center of Excellence spends the least ($10,273) and performs best. This suggests resource allocation issues within the district. Overall, the data reveals a tale of two high schools in one building and a fragile elementary foundation, where most students enter middle and high school significantly behind grade level, creating immense challenges for breaking the cycle of low achievement without major intervention.