Summary:
Zip code 72824, covering Belleville, Arkansas, is home to a single school, Western Yell County Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 6 with 157 students in a rural, high-poverty area where 98% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Western Yell County Elementary School is part of the Western Yell County School District, which ranks 186th out of 251 districts in Arkansas (26th percentile). The school itself has consistently earned a 2-star rating, ranking in the lower half of Arkansas elementary schools (between the 34th and 41st percentile over the last three years). Overall test scores in 2025-2026 trail state averages, with the biggest gap in Mathematics (30.6% proficient vs. 44.1% statewide) and Science (33.3% vs. 44%). However, English Language Arts shows a promising upward trend, improving from 28.8% to 36% proficiency in one year. Notably, 6th graders outperformed the state in Reading and Science, and 4th graders exceeded state averages in English Language Arts and Science, indicating pockets of instructional strength.
The school spends a substantial $16,185 per student, well above national averages, and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 10.9:1. Despite these investments, academic outcomes remain below state averages, suggesting that the high spending is largely directed toward addressing the challenges of extreme poverty rather than purely academic instruction. The small class sizes have not fully translated into top-tier results, likely due to the compounding effects of economic need and limited specialized resources. For parents, this school offers a close-knit environment with strong individual attention, but families should be aware that math proficiency is a significant weakness, while recent gains in literacy and select grade-level science performance offer some bright spots.
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