Best Public Schools in Zip Code 72211

The five schools in zip code 72211 of Little Rock, Arkansas, serve elementary and high school students, presenting a stark contrast between a high-performing elementary school and a struggling network of high schools. Terry Elementary School stands out for its remarkable turnaround, surpassing the state average in English Language Arts (39.6% vs. 39.4%) in the 2025-2026 school year despite a 99% free/reduced lunch rate, while Lisa Academy West Elementary School, a charter school in the Lisa Academy district, shows slightly lower ELA proficiency (35.3%) but a higher state ranking. In contrast, the three high schools—Premier High School Of North Little Rock, Premier High School Of Russellville, and Premier High School Of Fayetteville—all part of the Premier High Schools Of Arkansas district, share the same address and rank in the bottom 4% of the state, with critically low proficiency rates (0-8.6% in ELA) and alarmingly high dropout rates reaching 50%.

Key metrics reveal wide disparities in resources and outcomes. Terry Elementary spends $18,106 per student, nearly double Lisa Academy West's $10,447, yet both struggle with math proficiency (24.6% and 23.8%, respectively), far below the state average of 44.1%. The Premier High Schools have small enrollments (14 to 56 students) and high student-teacher ratios, with Premier High School of North Little Rock reporting a graduation rate of just 80.0% versus the state's 90.1%. Economic disadvantage is pervasive, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 61.29% to 99.09% across all schools.

Interesting findings include the paradox of resource allocation: Terry Elementary's higher spending correlates with academic improvement, but Lisa Academy West's lower spending yields a better state ranking, suggesting factors like school culture and curriculum matter. Math proficiency is a universal weakness, with no school exceeding 25% proficiency. The Premier High Schools appear to function as alternative credit-recovery programs, but their extreme dropout rates and shared address raise questions about their effectiveness in serving at-risk students. For parents, Terry Elementary offers a promising option for elementary education, while the high school options in this zip code present significant challenges.