Summary:
Zip code 72118 in North Little Rock, AR, is home to three elementary schools serving grades PK-5, with no middle or high schools present, split between the Pulaski County Special School District and the North Little Rock School District.
Crystal Hill Elementary stands out as the top academic performer in the area, earning a 2-star rating and ranking in the top 30th percentile statewide. It is the only school to outperform its district in Math proficiency (35.1% vs. 33.5%), with a notable 3rd-grade Math score of 49% that exceeds both the district and state averages. In contrast, Oak Grove Elementary presents a paradox: despite having the highest per-student spending ($18,904) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (12:1), it has the second-lowest academic performance and a declining state ranking. Amboy Elementary School faces the highest level of economic disadvantage, with 100% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, and consistently has the lowest proficiency rates across subjects.
A key takeaway is the clear inverse relationship between poverty levels and academic performance, with Crystal Hill (60% poverty) leading, Oak Grove (74% poverty) in the middle, and Amboy (100% poverty) trailing. However, Amboy is the only school showing year-over-year improvement, with significant jumps in ELA (from 16.2% to 24.6%) and Math (from 16.1% to 23.5%) proficiency. Oak Grove's high spending and small class sizes have not translated into better outcomes, suggesting that additional resources alone cannot overcome socioeconomic challenges. Crystal Hill's strong 3rd-grade Math performance is an anomaly that does not persist into 4th grade, indicating a possible targeted intervention or effective teacher at that grade level.
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