Summary:
In zip code 72153, there is a single elementary school, Shirley Elementary School, serving grades Kindergarten through 6th grade in the rural community of Shirley, Arkansas.
Shirley Elementary School is a high-poverty school with 85.21% of its 169 students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it is part of the Shirley School District, which holds a 1-star rating and ranks 203rd out of 251 districts in Arkansas. Despite these challenges, the school is on a clear upward trajectory, with its state ranking improving for three consecutive years from the 23rd percentile to the 31st percentile. The school invests heavily in its students, spending $16,064 per pupil and maintaining a low student-teacher ratio of 10.6:1, which supports small class sizes. However, overall proficiency on the 2025-2026 ATLAS exam remains below state averages in English Language Arts (35.3% vs. 39.4%), Reading (35.3% vs. 40.4%), Mathematics (31.8% vs. 44.1%), and Science (34.1% vs. 44.0%).
The most remarkable finding is the exceptional performance of 6th graders, who scored 50% proficient in ELA and Math, 58.4% in Reading, and 54.2% in Science—all exceeding state averages. This "6th Grade Effect" suggests strong upper-grade instruction or a standout cohort. Additionally, the school saw significant year-over-year gains across all subjects, with ELA improving by 9.8 percentage points. The primary area for improvement is Mathematics, where the school trails the state by 12.3 percentage points, though the 6th graders' success in math (50% vs. 45.1% state average) proves that closing this gap is achievable.
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