Summary:
Zip code 72204 in Little Rock, Arkansas, is home to five schools—four elementary schools and one high school—serving 2,564 students across the Little Rock School District and the Academies of Math and Science charter district, with a predominantly low-income population.
Parkview Magnet High School stands out as the area’s strongest school, with a 94.1% graduation rate, a 0.4% dropout rate, and English Language Arts and Reading proficiency scores that meet or exceed state averages. In contrast, the four elementary schools—Stephens Elementary, Bale Elementary School, Western Hills Elementary School, and the Academies Of Math And Science School—struggle significantly, with all scoring well below state averages in math, science, and reading. For example, math proficiency rates at these elementary schools range from 13.0% to 23.7%, compared to the state average of 44.1%. Western Hills Elementary School is a notable exception, showing the most improvement in the zip code by jumping from the 1st to the 13th percentile in state rankings over two years, despite serving a population where over 98% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
A key finding is the disconnect between high spending and low performance: the three Little Rock School District elementary schools spend over $16,700 per student yet remain among the lowest-performing in the state. Additionally, the Academies Of Math And Science School reveals a sharp drop in proficiency from 7th to 8th grade—ELA falling from 38.2% to 14.3% and math from 25.4% to 9.5%—suggesting a potential curriculum or retention issue. Overall, while Parkview Magnet High School offers a strong high school option, families with younger children should be aware that elementary education in this area faces substantial challenges, with poverty being a major factor in academic outcomes.
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