The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in Science. The lowest is 0% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ark. School for the Deaf
The Arkansas School for the Deaf is not a typical local school district. It is a state-run, specialized public school serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Located in Pulaski County, it operates as its own district, drawing students from across Arkansas rather than from a single attendance zone. A parent considering this school is looking at a dedicated environment designed around a specific communication and learning need, not a neighborhood comprehensive district.
The student body is understandably small. Enrollment is modest for a K-12 institution, which allows for a setting where every student is known. The demographic composition is diverse, with white students making up close to half of the enrollment, Black students a substantial share, and Hispanic students also present in noticeable numbers. The school reports that a small number of Asian students and students of two or more races are also enrolled. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, which is a gap for families trying to understand the economic profile of the student body.
Academically, the state testing data paints a picture of a school operating with very small testing cohorts, which means most results are suppressed to protect student privacy. For the few grade-level results that were reportable for the school year ending in 2025, the proficiency rates were extremely low. In fourth grade, no students tested scored at the proficient or above level in either math or English language arts. In science, a small share of fourth graders reached that bar. Because the tested group in each of these cases was very small, these figures represent a handful of children, and a parent should understand that the standard state assessment may not be the most telling measure of growth for students whose primary language and instructional access is through American Sign Language.
Overall, the district's proficiency index, which averages reported rates across all tested subjects and grades, places the school in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in Pulaski County. This is a soft spot in the data, and a family would want to discuss directly with the school how they measure academic progress, what alternative assessments or benchmarks are used for students who are not well served by the standard ATLAS exam, and what the post-graduation pathways look like for students. Chronic absenteeism, however, was reported at a very low rate, placing the school in the top quartile among its county peers. This suggests high attendance and consistent daily engagement among the students who are enrolled.
A major recent development, publicly reported in early 2025, reshapes the school's future. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill consolidating the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Arkansas School for the Blind into a single entity called the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind. This administrative merger combines the two legacy institutions under shared governance and resources. Separately, in early 2023, the governor announced plans for a new facility at the same Little Rock location to serve students from both schools, citing the existing buildings as in disrepair. That signals a significant capital investment and a forthcoming new physical learning environment.
The district operates a single school, listed as School for the Deaf. A family should note that the consolidation is recent, and the practical effects on day-to-day operations, staffing, and student life are still unfolding. Data on program offerings such as career and technical education, Advanced Placement courses, or dual credit was not available. Given the specialized nature of the school, families should inquire directly about the availability of a full high school diploma track, vocational training, and how the school prepares students for college, employment, or independent living. The graduation rate was also not available for the reported period, which is a notable gap for a school serving high school grades. A parent will want to ask for that figure directly.
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