Best High Schools in Zip Code 72542

In zip code 72542, there is one high school, Highland High School, serving grades 9 through 12 in Hardy, Arkansas, as part of the highly-rated Highland School District.

Highland High School stands out for its strong academic performance and impressive upward trajectory. The school has a total enrollment of 476 students and boasts an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 7.3 to 1, allowing for personalized attention. Its graduation rate is a robust 94.1%, well above the state average of 90.1%, and the dropout rate is a mere 0.4%. The school's state ranking has improved significantly, moving from the 70th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 83rd percentile in 2025-2026. Test scores show substantial year-over-year gains, particularly in Algebra, where proficiency jumped from 21.2% to 45.5%, and in English Language Arts, which rose from 33.3% to 43.1%. The school outperforms the state average in most subjects, including Reading (47.9% vs. 40.4%) and Biology (49.1% vs. 42.7%).

One notable area for improvement is Geometry, where only 24.5% of students are proficient, slightly below the state average of 26.4%. This is driven by 10th graders struggling significantly, while 9th graders taking the subject perform well above the state average. The school invests $14,544 per student, a substantial amount that, combined with the low student-teacher ratio, appears to support its high graduation rate and recent academic gains. Overall, Highland High School is a school on the rise, offering a strong, personalized learning environment with a clear focus on continuous improvement.