Summary:
Zip code 72601 in Harrison, Arkansas, is home to two high schools serving grades 9 through 12: Harrison High School and Bergman High School, both of which are high-performing institutions ranking in the top 10% of Arkansas schools.
Harrison High School is the larger school with 843 students and is part of the top-ranked Harrison School District, which sits 8th out of 251 districts statewide. It excels broadly, with above-average proficiency in English Language Arts (50.6%), Biology (49.8%), and a standout Geometry program where 93.9% of 9th graders are proficient—far exceeding the state average of 59.2%. In contrast, Bergman High School is a smaller school (297 students) within the Bergman School District (ranked 17th) that shines in Algebra, with 57.4% of students proficient compared to the state average of 36.9%. Bergman also boasts an exceptionally low dropout rate of just 0.3% and a very low student-teacher ratio of 3.8:1, supported by higher per-pupil spending of $13,295.
A key takeaway is the schools' inverted math strengths: Harrison dominates in Geometry while Bergman leads in Algebra, likely reflecting different curriculum focuses or teaching specializations. Both schools serve similar socioeconomic populations, with free/reduced lunch rates around 47-49%. For parents, Harrison High School offers a comprehensive, high-performing environment with strong overall academics, while Bergman High School provides a more intimate setting with exceptional math support and student retention. Both are excellent choices, with the decision hinging on whether a larger, broad-based program or a smaller, resource-intensive school better fits a student's needs.
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