Summary:
Zip code 72611, serving the Alpena, Arkansas area, is home to two public schools—Alpena Elementary School (grades PK-6) and Alpena High School (grades 7-12)—both part of the Alpena School District, which ranks in the top 27% of Arkansas districts with a 4-star rating.
Alpena Elementary School stands out as the academic leader in mathematics, with a 54.3% proficiency rate that surpasses the state average by over 10 points, and it outperforms state averages in all core subjects. In contrast, Alpena High School boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 3:1, offering highly personalized instruction, yet it struggles in specialized subjects like Algebra (34.4% proficient) and Biology (29.4% proficient), both below state averages. The high school also shows a concerning decline in state ranking, dropping from the 83rd percentile to the 58th percentile over three years, while the elementary school has shown more stability with recent improvement.
Despite over 60% of students at both schools qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the district achieves strong overall outcomes, including a 94.5% graduation rate at the high school—well above the state average. Spending per student is notably higher at the high school ($14,893) compared to the elementary school ($12,971), which funds the low student-teacher ratio but does not guarantee top performance in all subjects. The elementary school’s consistent math success across all grades suggests a focused curriculum, while the high school’s mixed results highlight the challenges of a small school environment in offering specialized coursework.
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