Midland School District, AR

Original Research by School Decision on Midland School District

Midland School District serves a small rural population in Independence County, Arkansas, with two schools that cover kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district draws students from several small communities including Bradford, Judsonia, Pangburn, parts of Batesville, and Pleasant Plains, giving it a scattered, low-density footprint. Housing in these areas is more affordable than the state average, and the market has been modestly appreciating, making the region accessible for families looking for lower-cost homeownership.

The student body is overwhelmingly white, with small Hispanic and Black populations. The district did not report the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, nor did it provide counts of students receiving special education services or English learner support. That means the economic and learning-support profile of the student body is not visible from the available data, and a parent may want to ask the district directly about these demographics and the resources available.

On state testing for grades three through eight, overall proficiency across math, English language arts, and science places Midland among the lowest in Independence County. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency is below typical levels across most tested grades, and only a small minority score at the proficient mark. English language arts results are similar, with most grades showing fewer than a third of students meeting the bar. Science scores are uneven: while seventh graders performed at a comparatively higher level, other grades fell in a range more consistent with the district’s general pattern. The district does not publish state testing results for high school grades, so academic performance at that level is not assessable here.

Chronic absenteeism is a notable concern. The rate is higher than nearly every other district in the county, which can signal challenges with student engagement or family mobility. Given that per-pupil spending is above the midpoint among Independence County’s districts, the district has financial resources that exceed many of its peers, yet achievement and attendance outcomes lag. A parent may want to understand how those funds are directed and what specific interventions are in place for struggling students and for improving attendance.

No graduation rate was reported, nor are there data on college readiness, Advanced Placement, career and technical education, or dual-enrollment offerings. The high school’s course catalog and postsecondary pathways are not covered by the available information. The district has two schools: Midland Elementary School and Midland High School, but specifics about program offerings, class sizes, or extracurriculars were not provided.

Public records show no major district changes in the last four years, such as bond issues, curriculum overhauls, or administrative restructuring. The district appears to be operating with a stable profile, though that also means there is no recent strategic investment documented.

Midland School District presents as a small, rural system with comparatively high spending but low measured academic performance and elevated absenteeism. Its affordable housing and small scale may appeal to families seeking a tight-knit environment, but those families will want to investigate the high school’s graduation outcomes, the nature of academic support, and the steps the district is taking to address its attendance and achievement gaps. Without more detailed information on programs and outcomes, the picture remains incomplete, and direct inquiry with the district would be essential.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

455

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 1%

White 94%

Two+ 2%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

MIDLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

15%

Grade 3

20%

Grade 4

18%

Grade 5

32%

Grade 6

37%

Grade 7

39%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

39%

Grade 3

17%

Grade 4

21%

Grade 5

32%

Grade 6

37%

Grade 7

28%

Grade 8

Science

6 grades reported

33%

Grade 3

26%

Grade 4

37%

Grade 5

29%

Grade 6

62%

Grade 7

35%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$169,679

Year-over-year change+5.6%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$140K to $210K

vs. state typical0.76x

vs. national typical0.46x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
72568	Pleasant Plains	$169K	+7.4%	29.1%
72020	Bradford	$140K	+1.7%	8.9%
72501	Batesville	$175K	+5.7%	8.4%
72081	Judsonia	$181K	+5.2%	7.6%
72121	Pangburn	$210K	+2.4%	4.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$898/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
72501	Batesville	$898	—	8.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$856/mo

Home price / national median income2.0x

Annual rent / national median income12.9%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$42/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$222,300 (+3.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.