Summary:
In zip code 72837, there is one middle school, Dover Middle School, serving grades 5 through 8 with 375 students in the Dover, Arkansas area.
Dover Middle School stands out for its exceptional performance in Algebra, where 85.7% of 8th graders were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—more than double the state average of 36.9%. This creates a "pocket of excellence" within mathematics, even as overall math scores (42.8%) slightly trail the state average (44.1%). The school also outperforms the state in Science (48.6% vs. 44.0%) and holds steady in English Language Arts (39.9% vs. 39.4%) and Reading (41.3% vs. 40.4%). Despite nearly two-thirds of students (64.27%) being economically disadvantaged, the school achieves at or above state averages in most core subjects, indicating strong teaching and leadership. The school's state ranking dropped from the 80th percentile (4 stars) in 2024-2025 to the 63rd percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026, but this is due to other schools improving faster, not a decline in performance—scores in core subjects actually remained stable or improved. The Dover School District holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 75th percentile among Arkansas districts.
Key metrics include a student-teacher ratio of 13.7:1 and spending of $12,228 per student. The school shows consistent grade-level performance across grades 5-8, with math proficiency ranging from 39.1% (8th grade) to 50.6% (5th grade), suggesting a stable academic environment. Overall, Dover Middle School is a solid choice for families, offering strong advanced math opportunities and steady performance across subjects despite economic challenges.
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