Best Public Schools in Zip Code 72206

Zip code 72206 in Little Rock, Arkansas, is home to 10 schools serving students from elementary through high school, managed by three districts: the Pulaski County Special School District, the Little Rock School District, and the Sheridan School District. A key theme across the area is high economic disadvantage, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of about 72% and several schools near 99%, which strongly influences academic outcomes.

The standout school for performance is East End Intermediate School (Sheridan District), which earns a 3-star rating and ranks in the 62nd percentile statewide, with proficiency rates above state averages in English, reading, and math. It achieves this with relatively low spending ($10,121 per student) and a higher student-teacher ratio (16:1). In contrast, Washington Elementary School (Little Rock District) spends the most per student ($25,295) but has the lowest performance, with a 0-star rating and single-digit proficiency in 5th-grade math (3.9%) and science (5.9%). This inverse relationship between spending and performance is a striking pattern, as the three highest-spending schools are among the lowest-rated, while the lowest-spending school is the top performer.

An interesting anomaly is Mann Magnet Middle School (Little Rock District), which, despite a 1-star overall rating, shows a unique strength in Algebra with a 48.8% proficiency rate—well above district and state averages. This suggests a selective magnet program accelerates a specific group of students, even as general math proficiency remains low. The only high school, Mills University Studies High School (Pulaski County District), faces significant challenges with a 75.4% graduation rate, far below state averages, and critically low proficiency in Algebra (6.3%) and Geometry (8.9%). Overall, the two Sheridan District schools are the only ones ranking in the top half of the state, highlighting a stark contrast in outcomes across the three districts.