Summary:
Zip code 72703 in Fayetteville, AR, is home to two elementary schools within the Fayetteville School District, Butterfield Elementary School and Asbell Elementary School, both serving grades PK-4 and presenting a stark contrast in academic performance and student demographics.
Butterfield Elementary School is the higher-performing school in the area, with a 3-star rating and test scores that are competitive with the district average and significantly above the state average. However, its state ranking has declined from the 89th percentile to the 63rd percentile over the past two years, a trend worth monitoring. In contrast, Asbell Elementary School faces significant challenges, holding a 1-star rating and a low 12th percentile state ranking. Its proficiency rates in ELA, math, and science are roughly half the district average, indicating systemic struggles across all subjects and grade levels. The disparity is closely tied to socioeconomic factors, with Asbell serving a much higher percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch (87.46%) compared to Butterfield (47.27%).
Despite these challenges, Asbell Elementary School receives significantly more resources per student ($17,096 vs. $12,253) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (14.5 vs. 19.5) than Butterfield Elementary School. This targeted investment, while necessary, has not yet closed the achievement gap, suggesting that additional intensive interventions may be required. For parents, the choice between these two schools within the same district is critical, as school performance varies dramatically based on which school a child attends.
Thank you for your feedback!