Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary-level schools in the 72210 zip code of Little Rock, Arkansas, serving a combined 1,371 students from Pre-K through 8th grade across two districts: the Little Rock School District and the Pulaski County Special School District.
Lawson Elementary School stands out as the top performer, achieving the highest state ranking (308th out of 491) and the best overall proficiency rates in English Language Arts (40.9%) and Mathematics (35.2%). It is the only school in the area to score above the state average in any subject, notably in 4th Grade Mathematics (58.6% vs. state 47%). Lawson also has the lowest student-teacher ratio (12.7:1) and a significantly lower free/reduced lunch rate (63.18%) compared to its peers. Otter Creek Elementary School shows the most substantial year-over-year improvement, with its state ranking jumping from the 17th to the 28th percentile and proficiency rates increasing by over 10 percentage points in all core subjects. J.A. Fair K8 Preparatory School has the largest enrollment (779 students) and a unique K-8 structure, but its overall scores are the lowest in the area. However, it boasts a remarkable 100% proficiency rate in Algebra for its 8th graders, far exceeding district and state averages.
Key takeaways include that high per-student spending (over $17,000 on average) does not guarantee high performance, as J.A. Fair and Otter Creek have nearly identical poverty rates (over 99%) but very different academic outcomes. Grade-level performance varies significantly within schools, such as at Lawson where 4th graders excel in math but 5th graders struggle, suggesting cohort effects or instructional differences. Overall, Lawson offers the strongest academic profile, Otter Creek is on a strong upward trajectory, and J.A. Fair shows a targeted strength in advanced math for a select group of students.
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