Summary:
In zip code 72742, there is one elementary school, Kingston Elementary School, serving 122 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade in the rural community of Kingston, Arkansas, part of the Jasper School District.
Kingston Elementary School presents a mixed but promising picture. The school serves a student population where 97.54% qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating high economic need, yet it achieves overall proficiency rates above the state average in Mathematics (51% vs. 44.1%), English Language Arts (47% vs. 39.4%), and Reading (43.2% vs. 40.4%). This is supported by a very low student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1 and high per-pupil spending of $16,608, suggesting resources are effectively directed to overcome socioeconomic challenges. However, Science proficiency lags behind the state average (35.3% vs. 44%). The school’s state ranking has been volatile, dropping to a 1-star rating in the 22nd percentile in 2024-2025 before rebounding to a 3-star rating in the 53rd percentile in 2025-2026.
The most notable finding is a dramatic performance gap between grade levels. In the 2025-2026 school year, 3rd graders achieved 80% proficiency in Math and 75% in Reading, while 4th graders scored only 16.6% in Math and 8.3% in Reading. This "3rd Grade Peak vs. 4th Grade Cliff" pattern across all subjects suggests a potential issue with the 4th-grade curriculum, instruction, or a specific cohort challenge. Parents should be aware that while the school shows strong overall results and a recent rebound, individual grade-level performance can vary significantly, making it important to monitor their child’s specific grade and teacher support.
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