Summary:
The two public schools in zip code 72121, serving the Pangburn, Arkansas area, are both part of the Pangburn School District, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 71st percentile statewide. Pangburn Elementary School (grades K-6) is the standout performer, consistently exceeding state averages in all core subjects, particularly in Science (57.7% proficient vs. 44% state) and Mathematics (53.7% vs. 44.1% state). Its ranking has improved from a 3-star to a 4-star school over the past two years, making it a high-performing anchor for the community. In contrast, Pangburn High School (grades 7-12) presents a more mixed profile, with average test scores that lag behind the elementary school, especially in advanced math courses like Algebra and Geometry.
Key metrics reveal a notable disparity between the two schools. Pangburn High School boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.8:1, yet this resource does not translate into top-tier academic results, suggesting the small class sizes may be used for targeted support rather than broad acceleration. The high school also excels in student retention, with a 94.8% graduation rate and a remarkably low 0.3% dropout rate, even as over half of its students (56.44%) are economically disadvantaged. Meanwhile, Pangburn Elementary, with a higher student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1 and a 64.84% free/reduced lunch rate, achieves significantly stronger test scores across the board.
An interesting finding is the "tale of two math programs" at the high school: 7th-grade math proficiency is a standout at 54.8% (vs. 44.2% state), but performance drops sharply in Algebra (18.2% proficient) and Geometry (13.8% proficient), indicating a struggle with higher-level concepts. Science is a district-wide strength, with both schools performing well above state averages in Biology and elementary science. Overall, the district prioritizes keeping students in school and graduating them, even if standardized test scores at the high school level are not as high as those at the elementary level, creating a clear performance gap between the two campuses.
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