Summary:
In zip code 72761 (Siloam Springs, AR), there are two middle-level schools serving grades 5-8 within the Siloam Springs School District, offering a combined enrollment of 1,427 students.
Siloam Springs Middle School (grades 7-8) stands out for its exceptional Algebra program, with an 87% proficiency rate that far exceeds district and state averages. However, this success masks broader challenges: the school's overall math proficiency (36.3%) and English Language Arts scores fall below state averages, and its state ranking has declined from the 64th to the 48th percentile over the past two years. In contrast, Siloam Springs Intermediate School (grades 5-6) demonstrates strong efficiency, spending $1,720 less per student ($10,570 vs. $12,290) while achieving higher overall math proficiency (43.3% vs. 36.3%). The intermediate school also has a higher percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (64.77%) compared to the middle school (58.82%).
A key takeaway is the "middle school slump" evident between the two schools: as students move from the intermediate school to the middle school, proficiency in core subjects like math and English tends to drop, suggesting a need for targeted support for 7th and 8th graders. The higher spending at the middle school does not translate into better outcomes for most students in core subjects, likely due to costs associated with the advanced Algebra program. Parents should note that the Algebra success at the middle school reflects a select group of high-achieving students, making direct comparisons of overall math scores between the two schools misleading.
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