Summary:
In zip code 72438, there is one elementary school, Buffalo Island Central Elementary School, serving grades Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade in Leachville, Arkansas, with a total enrollment of 404 students.
Buffalo Island Central Elementary School is part of the Buffalo Island Central School District, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 75th percentile among Arkansas districts. The school stands out for its strong performance in Mathematics, where 56.7% of all students were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year, significantly exceeding the state average of 44.1%. This strength is especially notable in 6th grade, where 76.9% of students achieved proficiency in Math. The school also demonstrates above-average results in English Language Arts (49.5% vs. 39.4% state) and Reading (46.6% vs. 40.4% state), while Science proficiency (45.2%) is only slightly above the state average (44.0%). The school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.9:1 and spends $12,701 per student, supporting individualized instruction despite a 67.08% free/reduced lunch rate.
A key finding is a notable 4th grade slump, where students scored below state averages in English Language Arts, Reading, and Mathematics, suggesting a potential curriculum or transition issue. Conversely, the school achieved a remarkable 13.6 percentage point increase in overall Math proficiency year-over-year, a major success. Science remains a relative weakness, with 5th and 6th graders scoring below state averages. Overall, the school consistently outperforms state averages across most subjects, demonstrating effective teaching and resource allocation despite economic challenges.
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