Watson Chapel High School

Summary:

Watson Chapel High School is a public high school located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 497. The school is part of the Watson Chapel School District, which is ranked 239 out of 252 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Watson Chapel High School consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of Arkansas high schools, with a statewide ranking between 264-278 out of 305 schools in the past 5 years. The school has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating very poor academic performance. Its test scores are significantly below the state averages across all subjects and grade levels, with only 12.5% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 4% proficient or better in math, compared to the state averages of 33.8% and 26.8%, respectively. The school has a 100% free and reduced lunch rate, indicating that the student population comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

In comparison, the nearby schools, such as Rison High School, Woodlawn High School, and White Hall High School, all have significantly higher academic performance, test scores, and state rankings. For example, Rison High School ranks 51st out of 305 Arkansas high schools and has much higher proficiency rates in all subjects. Despite the higher spending per student compared to the state average, Watson Chapel High School's academic performance remains poor, indicating that the resources may not be effectively allocated or utilized to improve student outcomes.

Detail:

Public 9-12

4000 Camden Rd
Pine Bluff, AR 71603

(870) 879-3230

District: Watson Chapel School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
278^th of 305 Arkansas High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,727

Student/teacher ratio: 13.4

Number of students: 639

Racial breakdown:

African American:

87.2%

White:

7.2%

Hispanic:

2.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Watson Chapel High School ranks worse than 91.1% of high schools in Arkansas. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.56. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (87.2%), White (7.2%), Hispanic (2.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Watson Chapel High School is 13.4. (See more...)

Compare Watson Chapel High School employs 47.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Watson Chapel High School is $10,727.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Watson Chapel High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Watson Chapel High School 278^th of 305 Arkansas public high schools. (See Watson Chapel High School in the ranking list.)

Watson Chapel School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Watson Chapel School District 239^th of 252 Arkansas school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Watson Chapel High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AR State Percentile
2006	23.97	188^th	232	19.0%
2007	28.99	192^nd	258	25.6%
2008	16.82	225^th	256	12.1%
2009	24.59	219^th	261	16.1%
2010	13.29	236^th	262	9.9%
2011	16.55	235^th	266	11.7%
2012	15.62	239^th	266	10.2%
2013	9.74	255^th	271	5.9%
2014	9.72	252^nd	268	6.0%
2015	25.11	223^rd	267	16.5%
2016	13.44	250^th	269	7.1%
2017	20.27	230^th	264	12.9%
2018	13.02	239^th	263	9.1%
2019	10.40	265^th	282	6.0%
2021	11.71	264^th	290	9.0%
2022	9.89	265^th	282	6.0%
2023	9.02	274^th	295	7.1%
2024	15.56	278^th	305	8.9%

See the entire list of Arkansas High School Rankings!

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

Data source: Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a citizen
Friday, July 26, 2019

I graduated from this school in 2001. To me it was the best High School EVER Close Quote

Enrollment information for Watson Chapel High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	469	342	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	815
1989	462	328	3	1	n/a	n/a	n/a	794
1990	444	340	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	789
1991	410	318	0	1	6	n/a	n/a	735
1992	396	314	7	0	1	n/a	n/a	718
1993	374	298	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	677
1994	387	316	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	706
1995	401	346	2	1	4	n/a	n/a	754
1996	401	346	2	1	4	n/a	n/a	754
1997	406	362	0	3	4	n/a	n/a	775
1998	365	378	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	747
1999	359	397	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	760
2000	358	390	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	751
2001	347	430	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	778
2002	312	424	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	737
2003	312	424	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	737
2004	311	419	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	730
2005	307	461	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	768
2006	323	497	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	820
2007	301	480	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	782
2008	261	472	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	735
2009	246	500	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	752
2010	232	494	4	5	0	0	0	735
2011	238	472	4	9	0	0	0	723
2012	229	479	4	8	0	0	0	720
2013	199	526	3	6	0	0	2	736
2014	163	540	3	6	0	0	1	713
2015	146	497	5	10	0	0	2	660
2016	139	482	5	17	0	0	3	646
2017	144	482	5	15	0	0	1	647
2018	127	504	3	17	0	0	1	652
2019	106	479	6	12	0	0	1	604
2020	76	440	5	14	0	0	1	536
2021	65	453	9	9	0	0	3	539
2022	47	421	7	8	0	0	5	488
2023	36	441	6	9	0	0	5	497
2024	46	557	8	17	0	0	11	639

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 Watson Chapel High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	815	48.9	16.6	n/a
1989	794	52.0	15.2	n/a
1990	789	49.0	16.1	17.1
1991	735	45.7	16.0	17.6
1992	718	45.6	15.7	18.7
1993	677	42.9	15.8	22
1994	706	42.8	16.5	19.1
1995	754	42.5	17.7	19.4
1996	754	42.5	17.7	19.4
1997	775	42.7	18.1	19.1
1998	747	42.7	17.5	26.2
1999	760	27.9	27.2	55.9
2000	751	46.0	16.3	29.7
2001	778	49.0	15.9	31.4
2002	737	45.0	16.4	32
2003	737	45.0	16.4	32
2004	730	45.0	16.2	36
2005	768	45.0	17.1	36.2
2006	820	49.0	16.7	43
2007	782	47.0	16.6	59
2008	735	50.0	14.7	44.2
2009	752	51.0	14.7	48.9
2010	735	53.8	13.8	47.3
2011	723	51.5	14.0	54.5
2012	720	51.9	13.8	59.4
2013	736	51.9	14.1	65.5
2014	713	48.6	14.6	63.5
2015	660	44.0	15.0	65
2016	646	46.0	14.0	65.9
2017	647	50.3	12.8	17.2
2018	652	49.1	13.2	19.2
2019	604	43.2	13.9	64.9
2020	536	44.6	12.0	99.8
2021	539	38.7	13.8	100
2022	488	36.3	13.4	100
2023	497	43.0	11.5	100
2024	639	47.3	13.4	100

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 Watson Chapel High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	815	48.9	16.6	n/a
1989	794	52.0	15.2	n/a
1990	789	49.0	16.1	17.1
1991	735	45.7	16.0	17.6
1992	718	45.6	15.7	18.7
1993	677	42.9	15.8	22
1994	706	42.8	16.5	19.1
1995	754	42.5	17.7	19.4
1996	754	42.5	17.7	19.4
1997	775	42.7	18.1	19.1
1998	747	42.7	17.5	26.2
1999	760	27.9	27.2	55.9
2000	751	46.0	16.3	29.7
2001	778	49.0	15.9	31.4
2002	737	45.0	16.4	32
2003	737	45.0	16.4	32
2004	730	45.0	16.2	36
2005	768	45.0	17.1	36.2
2006	820	49.0	16.7	43
2007	782	47.0	16.6	59
2008	735	50.0	14.7	44.2
2009	752	51.0	14.7	48.9
2010	735	53.8	13.8	47.3
2011	723	51.5	14.0	54.5
2012	720	51.9	13.8	59.4
2013	736	51.9	14.1	65.5
2014	713	48.6	14.6	63.5
2015	660	44.0	15.0	65
2016	646	46.0	14.0	65.9
2017	647	50.3	12.8	17.2
2018	652	49.1	13.2	19.2
2019	604	43.2	13.9	64.9
2020	536	44.6	12.0	99.8
2021	539	38.7	13.8	100
2022	488	36.3	13.4	100
2023	497	43.0	11.5	100
2024	639	47.3	13.4	100

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 Watson Chapel High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,004 (9.4%)	$9,723 (90.6%)	$10,727

Data source: Arkansas Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Watson Chapel High 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 265^th of 282 High schools	Ranks 274^th of 295 High schools	1.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English (Watson Chapel High School)	35.9	29.3	6.6%
10th Grade English (Watson Chapel School District)	35.9	29.3	6.6%
10th Grade English (Arkansas)	59.6	54.4	5.2%
10th Grade Math (Watson Chapel High School)	9.3	2.8	6.5%
10th Grade Math (Watson Chapel School District)	9.3	2.8	6.5%
10th Grade Math (Arkansas)	29.2	20.4	8.8%
10th Grade Science (Watson Chapel High School)	10.8	10.4	0.4%
10th Grade Science (Watson Chapel School District)	10.8	10.4	0.4%
10th Grade Science (Arkansas)	33	28.6	4.4%
10th Grade Reading (Watson Chapel High School)	10.3	13.8	3.5%
10th Grade Reading (Watson Chapel School District)	10.3	13.8	3.5%
10th Grade Reading (Arkansas)	32.2	35.9	3.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Watson Chapel High School)	5.5	1.9	3.6%
11th Grade Mathematics (Watson Chapel School District)	5.5	1.9	3.6%
11th Grade English (Watson Chapel High School)	27.1	18.8	8.3%
11th Grade English (Watson Chapel School District)	27.1	18.8	8.3%
11th Grade Reading (Watson Chapel High School)	8.3	11	2.7%
11th Grade Reading (Watson Chapel School District)	8.3	11	2.7%
11th Grade Science (Watson Chapel High School)	6.6	5.2	1.4%
11th Grade Science (Watson Chapel School District)	6.6	5.2	1.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	604	497	17.7%
African American	479	441	7.9%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	6	6
Hispanic	12	9	25%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	106	36	66%
Two or More Races	1	5	400%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	64.9%	100%	35.1%

Schools Near Watson Chapel High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2024)					ATLAS Reading (2024)					ATLAS Mathematics (2024)			ATLAS Algebra (2024)			ATLAS Geometry (2024)				ATLAS Science (2024)			ATLAS Biology (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 9th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 10th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 7th Grade	ATLAS Reading 8th Grade	ATLAS Reading 9th Grade	ATLAS Reading 10th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 7th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 8th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Algebra 8th Grade	ATLAS Algebra 9th Grade	ATLAS Algebra All Grades	ATLAS Geometry 9th Grade	ATLAS Geometry 10th Grade	ATLAS Geometry 11th Grade	ATLAS Geometry All Grades	ATLAS Science 7th Grade	ATLAS Science 8th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	ATLAS Biology 9th Grade	ATLAS Biology 10th Grade	ATLAS Biology 11th Grade	ATLAS Biology All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Watson Chapel High School	Public	9-12	4000 Camden Rd	Pine Bluff	71603	Jefferson County	Watson Chapel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 879-3230	639	47	13.4	100.0%	46 (7.2%)	557 (87.2%)	17 (2.7%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.7%)	15.6	278^th of 305 public high schools	8.9%		9	274^th of 295 public high schools	7.1%	4			11.4	13.5	12.5			13.1	14.6	13.8					4.2	4.0	0.0	0.6	0.9	0.7				0.0	11.6		11.6	$10,727	$1,004	$9,723
Pine Bluff High School	Public	10-12	711 W 11th St	Pine Bluff	71601	Jefferson County	Pine Bluff School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 543-4300	780	74	10.5	99.9%	14 (1.8%)	740 (94.9%)	8 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	15 (1.9%)	10.5	294^th of 305 public high schools	3.6%		6.3	282^nd of 295 public high schools	4.4%	12				7.8	7.8				8.5	8.3							0.0	0.4	0.0	0.4				0.0	11.7	0.0	11.6	$14,277	$2,635	$11,642
Southeast Ark College Careet Center	Public	9-12	912 West 6th Avenue	Pine Bluff	71601	Jefferson County	Jefferson Area Career Center	No	No	No	No	(870) 534-6129	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
White Hall High School	Public	9-12	700 Bulldog Dr	White Hall	71602	Jefferson County	White Hall School District	No	No	No	No	(870) 247-3255	975	71	13.7	49.3%	592 (60.7%)	298 (30.6%)	34 (3.5%)	30 (3.1%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.4%)	15 (1.5%)	36.6	200^th of 305 public high schools	34.4%		51	143^rd of 295 public high schools	51.5%	57			25.9	29.3	27.6			25.2	31.3	28.2					2.2	2.7	30.4	2.5	0.0	10.6				68.1	12.3	0.0	27.6	$9,363	$712	$8,651
Woodlawn High School	Public	7-12	6760 Hwy 63	Rison	71665	Cleveland County	Woodlawn School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 357-8171	269	24	11.4	49.4%	243 (90.3%)	2 (0.7%)	16 (5.9%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	57.6	115^th of 305 public high schools	62.3%		74.4	52^nd of 295 public high schools	82.4%	63	34.4	22.9	48.9	28.6	34.2	40.6	22.9	46.7	30.6	35.4	62.5	28.5	49.1	7.1	16.1	13.3	35.7	10.2	0.0	15.4	50.1	22.9	35.8		22.4	0.0	22.0	$9,444	$698	$8,745
Rison High School	Public	7-12	700 Main	Rison	71665	Cleveland County	Cleveland County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 325-6241	345	32	10.8	50.7%	248 (71.9%)	74 (21.4%)	9 (2.6%)	8 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)	73.1	51^st of 305 public high schools	83.3%		66.2	83^rd of 295 public high schools	71.9%	32	18.2	36.7	28.6	47.1	32.3	18.2	36.7	25.0	51.0	32.2	36.4	40.8	38.5		33.4	33.4	0.0	16.6	0.0	15.9	30.9	26.5	28.9		53.1	100.0	54.0	$9,648	$697	$8,951

Frequently Asked Questions about Watson Chapel High School

How many students attend Watson Chapel High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 639 students attended Watson Chapel High School.

What is the racial makeup of Watson Chapel High School?

Students at Watson Chapel High School are 87% African American, 7% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into Watson Chapel High School?

Watson Chapel High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Coleman Elementary School
Elementary : Edgewood Elementary School
Middle : Watson Chapel Junior High School

Is Watson Chapel High School a good school?

Watson Chapel High School ranks in the bottom 8.9% of Arkansas high schools.

What district is Watson Chapel High School in?

Watson Chapel School District

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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.