Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools in zip code 72116 (North Little Rock, AR), all part of the North Little Rock School District, serving grades K-5 with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, indicating high economic need across the area.
The standout schools are Crestwood Elementary School and Lakewood Elementary School, both earning 4-star ratings and ranking in the top 20% of Arkansas schools. Crestwood ranks 93rd in the state, though it dropped from 47th the previous year, while Lakewood ranks 103rd with remarkable consistency over three years. Lakewood slightly edges out Crestwood in English Language Arts (54.6% vs. 51.5%) and Mathematics (60.6% vs. 57.7%) proficiency. In contrast, Ridge Road Elementary School is the lowest-performing school, ranking 411th out of 491 schools (1 star) and scoring below the district average in every subject, with only 22.9% proficient in ELA. Indian Hills Elementary School sits in the middle, ranked 306th (2 stars), performing above the district average but below the state average.
A key finding is that spending does not equal success: Indian Hills has the highest spending per student ($14,200) and lowest student-to-teacher ratio (14.1), yet ranks far lower than Crestwood, which has the lowest spending ($12,666) and a higher ratio (18.4). This suggests school-level leadership and instruction quality matter more than raw funding. Another takeaway is the stark contrast within the same district: two schools are top performers while two are in the bottom 40%, all serving students with identical economic challenges. For parents, Lakewood offers a more consistent track record, while Ridge Road requires the most urgent attention and resources.
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