Paragould School District

The Paragould School District in Arkansas consists of 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school, serving a diverse student population with high levels of economic disadvantage.

Among the standout schools in the district is Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, which has consistently ranked among the top elementary schools in the state, earning 4 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger in the past two school years. This school has the highest test scores across multiple subjects and grade levels compared to the other elementary schools in the Paragould School District. In contrast, Paragould High School has seen a decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 81st out of 290 schools in 2020-2021 to 160th out of 295 schools in 2022-2023.

The district as a whole faces challenges, with test scores on the ACT Aspire exams generally below the state averages, except for Woodrow Wilson Elementary. Additionally, all schools in the district have 100% of their students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. The student-teacher ratios also vary across the schools, with Oak Grove Elementary having the highest ratio of 18 students per teacher, while Baldwin Elementary has the lowest ratio of 14 students per teacher, which may contribute to the disparities in academic performance.