Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 72712

The 12 elementary schools in zip code 72712, primarily part of the highly-ranked Bentonville School District (ranked 7th in Arkansas) along with the charter Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas Bentonville, serve grades K-4 (or K-8 for the charter) and consistently outperform state averages, placing the area in the top 8% of Arkansas schools.

The standout academic powerhouse is Evening Star Elementary School, ranked #1 in the state with the highest proficiency rates in math (84.7%) and science (80.2%), while Apple Glen Elementary School is a consistent top-10 performer, ranking #3. The charter school, Founders Classical Academies Of Arkansas Bentonville, ranks #6 and shows a distinct strength in math, with the highest Algebra proficiency (84.7%). In contrast, The International School At Mary Mae Jones presents a paradox: despite having the highest per-student spending ($13,389) among district schools, it ranks 107th in the state and has the lowest academic performance, while R.E. Baker Elementary School, the smallest school with 309 students, faces challenges with a high free/reduced lunch rate (38.19%) and below-average scores.

A key takeaway is that socioeconomic status is the strongest predictor of performance, as the top three schools all have free/reduced lunch rates under 20%, while the lowest-performing schools have the highest rates. Spending does not guarantee success, as Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and Sugar Creek Elementary School spend the most per student ($18,166 and $17,590) but rank 19th and 62nd, respectively. Additionally, several schools like Osage Creek Elementary School show a significant drop in proficiency from 3rd to 4th grade, suggesting a curriculum challenge worth investigating.