Summary:
In zip code 72521, there is one elementary school, Cave City Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 with 605 students in a high-poverty area where over 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Cave City Elementary School is part of the top-rated Cave City School District, which holds a 5-star rating and ranks in the 90th percentile among Arkansas districts. The school itself shows strong academic performance in early grades, particularly in 3rd grade where students significantly outperform the state average in English Language Arts (54.3% vs. 42.9%), Reading (55.6% vs. 43.1%), and Mathematics (60.5% vs. 45.5%). However, the school's state ranking has been declining over three years, dropping from the 73rd percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 59th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026. Overall test scores for 2025-2026 are generally on par with or slightly above state averages, with 45.4% proficient in English Language Arts (state: 39.4%), 45.4% in Reading (state: 40.4%), 42.5% in Mathematics (state: 44.1%), and 48.3% in Science (state: 44.0%).
A notable pattern is the dramatic performance drop between 3rd and 4th grade, with 4th graders scoring 31.5% proficient in Math compared to 60.5% for 3rd graders—a 29-percentage-point decline. This "4th grade slump" appears across all subjects and may indicate a curriculum transition issue or a need for targeted support. Despite serving a high-poverty population, the school demonstrates resilience with overall scores near state averages, though the declining state ranking and broad year-over-year test score declines in some subjects warrant attention from parents and school leadership.
Thank you for your feedback!