Summary:
In zip code 72143, which covers Searcy, Arkansas, there are two high schools—Searcy High School and Riverview High School—serving grades 9 through 12, offering a clear contrast in size, performance, and challenges.
Searcy High School is the standout in this area, with a 4-star rating and a state rank of 84th out of 293 schools. It outperforms state averages in English, Reading, and Biology, and boasts a strong 91.9% graduation rate with a very low 1.0% dropout rate. In contrast, Riverview High School holds a 2-star rating and ranks 174th, with academic scores below state averages in all core subjects, including a 21.1% proficiency in Algebra compared to the state’s 36.9%. Riverview also has a higher dropout rate of 4.1% and a lower graduation rate of 89.6%. Notably, Riverview spends significantly more per student ($14,759 vs. $10,813 at Searcy) and has a much smaller student-teacher ratio (4.4:1 vs. 10.4:1), yet its outcomes lag, highlighting that socioeconomic factors—like Riverview’s 70.88% free/reduced lunch rate versus Searcy’s 39.43%—play a major role.
Despite these challenges, Riverview showed dramatic year-over-year improvement in math, with Algebra proficiency jumping from 4.4% to 21.1%, suggesting targeted interventions are working. Meanwhile, Searcy excels in 9th-grade Biology with a 92.9% proficiency rate, far above the state average of 72.2%. Both schools are part of distinct districts: Searcy School District and Riverview School District, each with unique strengths and areas for growth.
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