Summary:
Zip code 72863, serving the rural community of Scranton, Arkansas, is home to two public schools within the Scranton School District, which serves a total of 449 students from kindergarten through 12th grade and holds a 3-star rating, ranking 82nd out of 251 districts in the state.
The standout school in this area is Scranton Elementary School (grades K-6), which consistently outperforms state averages in all core subjects. In the 2025-2026 school year, it achieved 62.9% proficiency in Math and 53.3% in Science, compared to state averages of 44.1% and 44%, respectively. Its state ranking has climbed impressively from the 48th percentile to the 80th percentile over three years, earning a 4-star rating. In contrast, Scranton High School (grades 7-12) shows a more volatile performance, with a notable strength in Biology (55.1% proficiency vs. 42.7% state average) but a critical weakness in Math, where only 23.6% of students are proficient. The high school’s ranking has fluctuated wildly, from 4 stars to 1 star and back to 3 stars over the same period.
A key takeaway is the stark contrast between the two schools despite shared resources. The high school spends $2,485 more per student ($13,156 vs. $10,671) and has a much lower student-teacher ratio (7.4:1 vs. 14:1), yet its academic outcomes are significantly worse, particularly in Math where 8th graders achieve just 8.6% proficiency. This suggests a potential "leaky pipeline" where strong elementary foundations are not sustained in secondary grades. The elementary school’s steady improvement is the most encouraging trend, while the high school’s math struggles demand urgent attention to ensure college and career readiness for all students.
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