Summary:
Zip code 72943, serving the rural community of Magazine, Arkansas, is home to two public schools within the Magazine School District, which together serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade with a combined enrollment of 524 students.
The standout school in this area is Magazine Elementary School (PK-6), which has shown strong academic performance, particularly in the most recent school year where it matched or exceeded state averages in mathematics and science. The school’s 5th grade class is exceptionally high-achieving, outperforming the state average by roughly 25 to 30 percentage points in every subject. In contrast, Magazine High School (7-12) presents a mixed picture: it boasts a strong graduation rate of 92.6% and a very low dropout rate of 0.8%, but its overall test scores in core subjects like English, advanced math, and biology fall below state averages. The high school’s state ranking has declined over the past three years, while the elementary school’s ranking has improved, creating a clear divide in performance between the two schools.
Key metrics reveal a district investing heavily in its students, with per-student spending around $15,800, well above national averages, and a notably low student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1 at the high school. However, this spending does not appear to translate into high academic outcomes at the secondary level. Over two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high-poverty population. An interesting pattern emerges with a "7th grade bump" in math proficiency, which spikes to 68.6% compared to 39.2% in 6th grade, though this success is not sustained in later grades. Overall, the district serves a challenging socioeconomic context, with the elementary school performing admirably while the high school faces significant academic hurdles.
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