Summary:
This analysis examines the two middle schools located in zip code 72173 (Vilonia, AR): Frank Mitchell Intermediate School (grades 4-6) and Vilonia Middle School (grades 7-8), both part of the highly-rated Vilonia School District.
Vilonia Middle School stands out for its exceptional advanced coursework, with 83.4% of students proficient in Geometry and 84.7% of 8th graders proficient in Algebra—far exceeding state averages. It has consistently earned a 5-star rating and ranks in the 93rd-95th percentile statewide. Frank Mitchell Intermediate School excels in building strong foundational skills, with proficiency rates in ELA (57.5%), Math (56.5%), and Science (61.5%) that are 10-20 percentage points above state averages. It operates efficiently with a higher student-teacher ratio (18:1) and lower per-student spending ($9,516) compared to Vilonia Middle School (12:1 ratio, $10,035 per student), yet both schools achieve nearly identical core subject proficiency.
Science is a district-wide strength, with both schools posting proficiency rates above 60% versus the state average of 44%. The data reveals a highly effective "Vilonia Pipeline," where students at Frank Mitchell build strong foundations and seamlessly transition to Vilonia Middle School, which then excels in advanced high school-level courses. Both schools also show year-over-year improvement, such as Vilonia Middle School's Science proficiency jumping from 51.6% to 65.1% and Frank Mitchell's ELA rising from 51.2% to 57.5%. This indicates a school system actively refining its instructional methods to deliver consistent, high-quality education across all grade levels.
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