Bearden School District

The Bearden School District in Arkansas operates two schools: Bearden Elementary School and Bearden High School. Both schools are performing below the state average on most academic measures, with consistently low rankings compared to their peers across Arkansas.

Neither Bearden Elementary School nor Bearden High School stand out as top performers in the district. Both schools have 1 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger and significantly lower proficiency rates on state assessments compared to the state average in subjects like English Language Arts, Math, and Science. Additionally, both schools serve a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-need student population.

Despite the district spending more per student than the state average, the schools continue to struggle to improve academic outcomes. This suggests that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to the persistent challenges faced by the Bearden School District. The district may need to take a comprehensive approach to address the underlying factors contributing to the underperformance, such as reviewing instructional practices, providing targeted interventions, and addressing resource inequities.