Summary:
Zip code 72120 in Sherwood, Arkansas, is home to a single high school, Sylvan Hills High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 as part of the Pulaski County Special School District.
Sylvan Hills High School presents a mixed picture for parents. On the positive side, the school has a strong graduation rate of 90.9%, slightly above the state average, and a low dropout rate of 3.5%. The student-teacher ratio is a favorable 12.7:1, suggesting smaller class sizes. However, the school's academic performance is a significant concern. Its state ranking dropped sharply from a 3-star rating in 2024-2025 to a 2-star rating in 2025-2026, placing it in the 35th percentile statewide. Proficiency in core subjects is well below state averages, with only 11.7% of students proficient in Geometry and 20.2% in Biology, compared to state averages of 26.4% and 42.7%, respectively.
The most critical issue is a dramatic performance gap for incoming 9th graders. In the 2025-2026 school year, only 9.1% of 9th graders were proficient in English Language Arts and Reading, while 10th graders scored 34.2% and 39.5% in those subjects. This "9th grade cliff" suggests a difficult transition to high school. While the school excels at keeping students on track to graduate, it urgently needs to address its academic struggles, particularly in math, science, and supporting its freshmen. The school's overall test proficiency in English Language Arts (33.4%) and Reading (38.5%) also trails the state, highlighting a need for comprehensive academic improvement.
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