Summary:
In zip code 72722, there is one middle school, Decatur Middle School, serving grades 5 through 8 in the Decatur, Arkansas area, which is part of the Decatur School District.
Decatur Middle School has a total enrollment of 162 students and a low student-teacher ratio of 11.6 to 1, which can allow for more individualized attention. The school reports a 100% free/reduced lunch rate, indicating that all students come from economically disadvantaged households. Per-student spending is $12,388, which is a significant investment. Despite these resources, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Arkansas middle schools over the past three years, currently holding a 1-star rating and ranking 271st out of 327 schools (17th percentile). Proficiency rates in all subjects are well below the state average, with English Language Arts at 25.3%, Reading at 27.3%, Mathematics at 25.4%, and Science at 29.1%.
The most notable finding is the school's dramatic year-over-year improvement in test scores between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Proficiency rates jumped by 9 to 11 percentage points in Reading, Math, and Science, which is a substantial gain. This suggests that recent instructional changes or interventions may be having a positive effect. Grade-level performance varies, with 8th Grade Science being the strongest area at 38.7% proficiency, while 7th Grade Reading (20.5%) and 8th Grade Math (20.7%) are the weakest. The school needs to sustain this growth trajectory to meaningfully improve its state ranking.
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