Summary:
Zip code 72601 in Harrison, Arkansas, is home to two middle schools serving grades 5 through 8: Harrison Middle School and Bergman Middle School.
Harrison Middle School is the standout performer in this area, consistently earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the top 20 schools statewide (94th percentile) for the 2025-2026 school year. With 865 students, it is over 2.5 times larger than Bergman Middle School (331 students) and spends more per student ($11,785 vs. $10,404). Harrison outperforms Bergman in every core subject, with particularly strong results in Mathematics (58.3% proficient vs. 50.5%) and Science (61.4% vs. 50.4%). A standout finding is that 93.4% of Harrison's 8th graders are proficient in Algebra, far exceeding the state average of 73.9%, indicating a highly effective advanced math program. Both schools serve a similar percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch (around 58-59%), and both are part of highly-rated districts: the Harrison School District ranks in the 97th percentile, while the Bergman School District ranks in the 93rd percentile.
Bergman Middle School is a strong school but shows more volatility, with its state ranking dropping from the 90th to the 84th percentile in the most recent year. Despite a more favorable student-teacher ratio (12.5:1 vs. 14.7:1), Bergman does not match Harrison's overall test scores. However, Bergman shows impressive 8th-grade Mathematics proficiency (67.1% vs. the state's 36.2%), though it struggles in 6th-grade Math (42.4%, below the state average of 45.1%). Both schools improved in most subjects year-over-year, with Harrison making notable gains in English Language Arts and Mathematics, and Bergman showing strong improvement in Mathematics. Overall, Harrison Middle School offers more consistent, elite academic performance, while Bergman Middle School provides a smaller setting with some standout grade-level results.
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