Best Public Schools in Zip Code 72734

The four public schools in zip code 72734, serving grades K-12, are all part of the Gentry School District, which is ranked in the top third of Arkansas districts and serves a community with moderate economic need, as about half of students receive free or reduced lunch.

The district's academic standout is Gentry Intermediate School (grades 3-5), the only school to earn a 4-star rating and the only one to consistently outperform both district and state averages in all core subjects. In contrast, Gentry Middle School (grades 6-8) is the weakest link, earning a 2-star rating and scoring below state averages in English and math—for example, only 30.9% of 8th graders are proficient in Reading versus the state's 38.4%. Gentry High School (grades 9-12) boasts an exceptional 7:1 student-teacher ratio and a strong 92.4% graduation rate, but its state ranking has dropped from the 79th to the 63rd percentile, and proficiency in Algebra (24.1%) and Geometry (21.8%) lags far behind state averages. Gentry Primary School (grades K-2) has no test score data, creating a gap in understanding early academic foundations.

A key finding is the "middle school slump," where performance dips sharply after the strong intermediate years. However, a bright spot exists in advanced math: 81.5% of middle school students taking Algebra are proficient, compared to just 36.9% statewide, showing the district effectively accelerates top math students. The high school receives the highest per-student funding ($13,854) and smallest classes, yet its low math scores raise questions about resource effectiveness. Overall, families should note the stark contrast between the high-performing intermediate school and the struggling middle school, as well as the high school's declining trajectory despite strong graduation rates.