Walnut Ridge Elementary School

Summary:

Walnut Ridge Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades K-6 in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, which is part of the Lawrence County School District. The school has consistently underperformed the state average on standardized tests, ranking between 276 and 348 out of around 500 Arkansas elementary schools over the past 10 years, with a 2-star rating.

Walnut Ridge Elementary faces several key challenges. Its students consistently score below the state average in English Language Arts and Math, with only 26.2% and 26.5% proficient or better, respectively, compared to state averages of 33.8% and 36.4%. The school also has a very high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 57.59% to 61.4% over the past 3 years, significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the school's per-student spending of $9,125 in 2018-2019 was slightly below the state average, which may contribute to its academic underperformance.

Interestingly, the other elementary schools in the surrounding area, such as Math & Science Magnet School, Westside Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Sloan-Hendrix Elementary, and Hoxie Elementary, also tend to underperform the state averages on standardized tests, suggesting that the academic challenges faced by Walnut Ridge Elementary may be reflective of broader issues in the region, which is characterized by high poverty levels.


Detail:

Public K-6

 508 E Free St
       Walnut Ridge, AR  72476


(870) 886-3482

District: Lawrence County School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
348th of 497 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,125 Help


Students who attend Walnut Ridge Elementary School usually attend:

High:    Walnut Ridge High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.7 Help
Number of students:  580

Racial breakdown:

White:
88.4%
Hispanic:
6.4%
Two or more races:
3.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  57.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Walnut Ridge Elementary School ranks worse than 70% of elementary schools in Arkansas. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 35.08. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (88.4%), Hispanic (6.4%), two or more races (3.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 57.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Walnut Ridge Elementary School is 14.7. (See more...)
Help
Compare Walnut Ridge Elementary School employs 39.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Walnut Ridge Elementary School is $9,125.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Walnut Ridge Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Lawrence County School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Lawrence County School District 132nd of 252 Arkansas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Walnut Ridge Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AR State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 70.89 124th 445 72.1%
2010 50.33 278th 457 39.2%
2011 49.49 282nd 471 40.1%
2012 57.88 239th 468 48.9%
2013 52.01 269th 476 43.5%
2014 48.26 290th 471 38.4%
2015 38.09 302nd 466 35.2%
2016 39.70 340th 494 31.2%
2017 39.31 322nd 485 33.6%
2018 46.72 276th 480 42.5%
2019 42.67 313th 488 35.9%
2021 35.24 348th 496 29.8%
2022 37.46 330th 487 32.2%
2023 45.49 307th 492 37.6%
2024 35.08 348th 497 30.0%
See the entire list of Arkansas Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Walnut Ridge Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    







Data source: Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Enrollment information for Walnut Ridge Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2007 463 3 0 0 2 n/a n/a 0 468
2008 472 3 0 3 1 n/a n/a 0 479
2009 462 1 1 0 2 n/a n/a 0 466
2010 443 0 1 4 1 0 7 0 456
2011 471 0 1 7 0 0 6 0 485
2012 476 0 1 7 6 0 7 0 497
2013 477 1 2 7 3 0 10 0 500
2014 450 2 2 10 1 0 11 0 476
2015 508 1 2 13 1 0 17 0 542
2016 519 3 2 18 0 0 25 0 567
2017 502 1 1 19 2 0 32 0 557
2018 497 1 4 29 3 0 35 0 569
2019 474 1 2 27 4 0 31 0 539
2020 501 0 3 34 4 0 27 0 569
2021 480 0 4 23 6 1 19 0 533
2022 502 1 2 27 5 1 19 0 557
2023 513 1 5 37 1 1 22 0 580

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Walnut Ridge Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2007 468 40.0 11.7 67.3
2008 479 42.0 11.4 60.5
2009 466 37.0 12.6 57.5
2010 456 38.6 11.1 61
2011 485 38.8 12.4 64.5
2012 497 40.6 12.2 66.4
2013 500 40.4 12.3 61
2014 476 39.4 12.0 62
2015 542 44.0 12.3 65.3
2016 567 45.0 12.6 66
2017 557 43.3 12.8 27.6
2018 569 43.7 13.0 30.1
2019 539 38.6 13.9 60.3
2020 569 37.9 15.0 61.7
2021 533 36.6 14.5 59.5
2022 557 37.8 14.7 61.4
2023 580 39.2 14.7 57.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Walnut Ridge Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2007 468 40.0 11.7 67.3
2008 479 42.0 11.4 60.5
2009 466 37.0 12.6 57.5
2010 456 38.6 11.1 61
2011 485 38.8 12.4 64.5
2012 497 40.6 12.2 66.4
2013 500 40.4 12.3 61
2014 476 39.4 12.0 62
2015 542 44.0 12.3 65.3
2016 567 45.0 12.6 66
2017 557 43.3 12.8 27.6
2018 569 43.7 13.0 30.1
2019 539 38.6 13.9 60.3
2020 569 37.9 15.0 61.7
2021 533 36.6 14.5 59.5
2022 557 37.8 14.7 61.4
2023 580 39.2 14.7 57.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Walnut Ridge Elementary School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,586 (17.4%) $7,539 (82.6%) $9,125

Data source: Arkansas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Walnut Ridge Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 313th of 488 Elementary schoolsRanks 307th of 492 Elementary schools
 1.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)72.450
 22.4%
   3rd Grade English (Lawrence County School District)72.450
 22.4%
   3rd Grade English (Arkansas)72.462.6
 9.8%
3rd Grade Math (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)60.634.8
 25.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Lawrence County School District)60.634.8
 25.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Arkansas)62.154.4
 7.7%
3rd Grade Science (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)34.230.5
 3.7%
   3rd Grade Science (Lawrence County School District)34.230.5
 3.7%
   3rd Grade Science (Arkansas)39.435
 4.4%
3rd Grade Reading (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)4623.7
 22.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (Lawrence County School District)4623.7
 22.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (Arkansas)38.332.2
 6.1%
4th Grade English (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)6253.4
 8.6%
   4th Grade English (Lawrence County School District)6253.4
 8.6%
   4th Grade English (Arkansas)69.663.3
 6.3%
4th Grade Math (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)39.543.8
 4.3%
   4th Grade Math (Lawrence County School District)39.543.8
 4.3%
   4th Grade Math (Arkansas)53.848.6
 5.2%
4th Grade Science (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)35.234.2
 1%
   4th Grade Science (Lawrence County School District)35.234.2
 1%
   4th Grade Science (Arkansas)42.338.5
 3.8%
4th Grade Reading (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)3134.2
 3.2%
   4th Grade Reading (Lawrence County School District)3134.2
 3.2%
   4th Grade Reading (Arkansas)45.342
 3.3%
5th Grade English (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)61.864.2
 2.4%
   5th Grade English (Lawrence County School District)61.864.2
 2.4%
   5th Grade English (Arkansas)73.370.2
 3.1%
5th Grade Math (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)39.428.4
 11%
   5th Grade Math (Lawrence County School District)39.428.4
 11%
   5th Grade Math (Arkansas)49.240.7
 8.5%
5th Grade Science (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)34.232.9
 1.3%
   5th Grade Science (Lawrence County School District)34.232.9
 1.3%
   5th Grade Science (Arkansas)40.734.6
 6.1%
5th Grade Reading (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)39.537.3
 2.2%
   5th Grade Reading (Lawrence County School District)39.537.3
 2.2%
   5th Grade Reading (Arkansas)4136.8
 4.2%
6th Grade English (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)80.376.4
 3.9%
   6th Grade English (Lawrence County School District)80.376.4
 3.9%
   6th Grade English (Arkansas)72.867.6
 5.2%
6th Grade Math (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)52.451.3
 1.1%
   6th Grade Math (Lawrence County School District)52.451.3
 1.1%
   6th Grade Math (Arkansas)53.747
 6.7%
6th Grade Science (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)40.944.5
 3.6%
   6th Grade Science (Lawrence County School District)40.944.5
 3.6%
   6th Grade Science (Arkansas)45.840.3
 5.5%
6th Grade Reading (Walnut Ridge Elementary School)44.345.8
 1.5%
   6th Grade Reading (Lawrence County School District)44.345.8
 1.5%
   6th Grade Reading (Arkansas)43.139
 4.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students539580
 7.6%
African American11
American Indian41
 75%
Asian25
 150%
Hispanic2737
 37%
Pacific Islander01
White474513
 8.2%
Two or More Races3122
 29%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients60.3%57.6%
 2.7%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Walnut Ridge Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 580 students attended Walnut Ridge Elementary School.

Walnut Ridge Elementary School ranks 348th of 497 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Walnut Ridge Elementary School are 88% White, 6% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

Students who attend Walnut Ridge Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Walnut Ridge High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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