Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 72335

There are two middle schools in zip code 72335 (Forrest City, AR): Forrest City Junior High School (serving grades 7-8) and Lincoln Academy (serving only 6th grade), both part of the Forrest City School District, which ranks in the bottom 6% of the state and serves a 100% free/reduced lunch population.

Forrest City Junior High is the larger and more established school, with 270 students and a standout Algebra program where 41.7% of 8th graders scored proficient in 2025-2026—surpassing the state average of 36.9%. However, its overall performance remains low, with ELA proficiency at 20.9% and math at 24.3%, both well below state averages. The school spends $16,207 per student, more than double Lincoln Academy's $7,149, and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1. Lincoln Academy, with 132 students, consistently scores lower across subjects, including 15.4% in ELA and 21.3% in math, and operates with a leaner budget and a 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Both schools face significant challenges, with Forrest City Junior High's state ranking declining from the 25th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 12th percentile in 2025-2026.

The most notable finding is the extreme spending disparity within the same district, which may explain Forrest City Junior High's stronger academic results, particularly in Algebra. Lincoln Academy's weak 6th-grade performance suggests foundational skill gaps that persist when students move to Forrest City Junior High, where 7th graders still score far below state averages. The district's 100% poverty rate and bottom-tier rankings indicate systemic challenges, but the Algebra success at Forrest City Junior High shows that targeted programs can create bright spots even in struggling schools.