Summary:
The city of Decatur, Arkansas is home to three public schools serving grades K-12: Decatur Northside Elementary, Decatur Middle School, and Decatur High School. Unfortunately, the data shows that these schools are consistently performing below the state average on academic metrics, with all three ranked in the bottom half of their respective school types in Decatur School District.
Across the board, the Decatur schools struggle with low proficiency rates in core subjects like English Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 22.5% of students at Decatur Northside Elementary were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 33.8%. The schools also serve a 100% free/reduced lunch population, indicating a high-poverty student demographic that may require additional resources and support.
While the Decatur schools have varying levels of spending per student and student-teacher ratios, these factors do not appear to be translating into improved academic outcomes. In fact, the schools' statewide rankings have been steadily declining over the past few years, suggesting systemic challenges that need to be addressed by the district and community. Improving the quality of education for students in Decatur should be a top priority to ensure they have the best possible opportunities for success.
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