Summary:
The city of Newark, Arkansas is home to two schools - Cedar Ridge High School and Cedar Ridge Elementary School, both part of the Cedar Ridge School District. While the elementary school has maintained a consistent 3-star rating, the high school has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, dropping to 250 out of 295 schools in 2022-2023 before improving to its current ranking of 158 out of 305 schools.
Academically, both schools face challenges, with generally lower test scores compared to state averages in English Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, and Science. However, Cedar Ridge Elementary School performs better in Mathematics, with 48.9% of students proficient or better, compared to the district and state averages of 43.5% and 36.4% respectively. The high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at both schools, 78.39% at the elementary school and 68.21% at the high school, suggest that the student population comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, which may contribute to the schools' academic challenges.
In terms of resource allocation, Cedar Ridge Elementary School spends $14,083 per student, while Cedar Ridge High School spends $12,622 per student, both higher than the state average. However, the elementary school has a higher student-teacher ratio of 11.7, compared to the high school's ratio of 5.5. This discrepancy in resource allocation and staffing may indicate a focus on early education and intervention at the elementary level, which could potentially benefit student outcomes in the long run.
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