Best Public Schools in Zip Code 72543

Zip code 72543 in Heber Springs, Arkansas, is served by three public schools—Heber Springs Elementary School, Heber Springs Middle School, and Heber Springs High School—all part of the highly-rated Heber Springs School District, which ranks 33rd out of 251 districts in Arkansas (87th percentile) with a 4-star rating and a total combined enrollment of 1,617 students.

Each school has a distinct academic strength. Heber Springs Middle School is the academic powerhouse, particularly in advanced math: 100% of its Algebra students were proficient in 2024-2025, and 88.9% were proficient in 2025-2026—more than double the district and state averages. Heber Springs Elementary School is the most consistent performer, scoring above the district average in every subject for 2025-2026, with its 5th-grade cohort excelling significantly above state averages in English Language Arts (55.6% vs. 40.9%), Reading (58.3% vs. 41.1%), Math (60.9% vs. 45.0%), and Science (62.6% vs. 43.8%). Heber Springs High School shines in Biology, with 66.5% proficiency in 2025-2026, far exceeding the state average of 42.7%, though its Algebra proficiency (31.6%) lags behind the state average. The high school also boasts an excellent student-teacher ratio of 8.1:1, while spending per student is highest there at $12,051.

Key takeaways include a strong "middle school math pipeline" from elementary to middle school, but a potential break in that pipeline between 8th and 9th grade, as high school Algebra scores drop. The high school shows a stark contrast between its top subject (Biology) and weakest (Algebra), suggesting uneven resource distribution. While all three schools have seen slight declines in state percentile rankings over three years, their actual test scores have remained stable or improved, indicating other schools are improving faster. The exceptional 5th-grade cohort at the elementary school is one to watch as they transition to middle school, where they could further boost already strong performance. The district has a moderate level of economic diversity, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 43.89% at the high school to 55.18% at the elementary school.