Summary:
Zip code 72556, serving the Melbourne, Arkansas area, is home to two public schools—Melbourne Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Melbourne High School (grades 7-12)—both part of the highly-rated Melbourne School District, which ranks in the 91st percentile statewide.
The standout school in this area is Melbourne Elementary, a 5-star institution ranked in the 92nd percentile among Arkansas elementary schools. It consistently outperforms state averages by over 20 percentage points in all core subjects, with its 6th-grade class achieving exceptional proficiency rates of 78% in ELA, 84% in Math, and 82% in Science. The school has shown impressive year-over-year growth, improving its ranking for three consecutive years. In contrast, Melbourne High School, while still strong with a 4-star rating and 86th percentile ranking, shows more inconsistent performance. A notable gap exists between the two schools: the elementary school's "All Grades" Math proficiency is 66.4%, compared to the high school's 51%, and Science proficiency drops from 69.4% to 39%. This suggests a challenge in maintaining academic momentum after 6th grade, particularly in math and science.
Key metrics highlight the district's strengths and areas for focus. The high school boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7:1, allowing for significant individualized attention, while the elementary school has a ratio of 12.7:1. The high school also achieves a 93.1% graduation rate and a remarkably low 0.2% dropout rate. However, high school math remains a specific challenge, with Algebra and Geometry proficiency rates of 45.5% and 32.7% respectively, though 8th-grade Algebra students excel at 92.4%. Overall, the Melbourne School District is a top-tier performer in Arkansas, investing in small class sizes and strong elementary foundations, though families should be aware of the academic dip that occurs at the secondary level.
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