Drew Central School District, AR

Original Research by School Decision on Drew Central School District

The Drew Central School District serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade in Drew County, Arkansas. The district is a single, unified system covering a rural part of the state, with no data provided on the specific towns or unincorporated areas it includes. The district operates three schools: an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.

Academically, the district's state assessment results from the most recent testing year show a mixed picture across grades and subjects. In English language arts, proficiency rates in the lower elementary grades were at modest levels, but the share of students meeting the state's proficiency bar dropped noticeably by fifth grade and remained low through the middle school grades. Math results follow a similar pattern, with a significant majority of students in most grades scoring below the proficiency threshold. The eighth-grade math proficiency rate was especially low. Science results were somewhat steadier, with a moderate share of students in several grades reaching proficiency, though overall performance still fell short of what many families would consider strong. No high school state testing data was provided, so a parent looking for a complete picture of academic achievement across all grade bands should seek out available high school results directly from the district or the Arkansas Department of Education.

A graduation rate was not available in the data, which is a notable gap. Because the district serves high school grades, the absence of this metric means a family evaluating the district should ask the school directly about its four-year graduation rate and any trends in student completion.

The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Black or African American enrollment and a smaller Hispanic population. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not provided. A parent wanting to understand the district’s support for students with disabilities or multilingual learners will need to follow up with the district office.

The housing market across the district’s coverage area is varied and generally affordable relative to national and state benchmarks. Estimated home values range widely, from more modest levels in some towns to higher values in the area’s largest community. The overall weighted home value in the district sits below the Arkansas statewide median and well below the national median, making this a relatively low-cost area for homebuyers. The county unemployment rate is in line with the broader national figure. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home, based on recent interest rates, is manageable, though affordability will depend on a household’s income. No data on rental costs was available.

The district’s size and setting place it in a rural context. Enrollment across all grades is moderate for a K-12 district, with a relatively even distribution through the elementary and middle grades and a somewhat smaller high school. The district’s boundaries cover multiple zip codes, drawing from a wide geographic area. A family considering a move here should be prepared for a rural, spread-out community with limited public transportation options.

Compared to other Drew County districts, the data was insufficient to calculate meaningful comparisons. Only one other district in the county had reported data for the key academic metrics, so no reliable position could be established. This is not a reflection on the district itself but a limitation of the available information in a small county with few districts.

A parent looking into this district will likely want to ask about curriculum changes, facility conditions, and any recent or planned referendums or millage decisions. The district brief turned up little publicly reported information on those topics, so the best source of that information will be school board meeting minutes and district communications. The academic landscape here shows room for growth, particularly in math and reading across the middle grades, and a family with high expectations for college-prep performance should investigate how the district is working to raise achievement.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,161

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 24%

White 66%

Asian 0%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

DREW CENTRAL ELEM. SCHOOL

DREW CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

DREW CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

32%

Grade 3

40%

Grade 4

22%

Grade 5

31%

Grade 6

38%

Grade 7

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

34%

Grade 4

16%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 6

21%

Grade 7

18%

Grade 8

Science

6 grades reported

42%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

34%

Grade 5

30%

Grade 6

39%

Grade 7

38%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$142,708

Year-over-year change-0.4%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$53K to $161K

vs. state typical0.64x

vs. national typical0.39x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
71655	Monticello	$161K	+1.6%	51.2%
71675	Wilmar	$135K	+1.2%	27.6%
71670	Tillar	$122K	-6.4%	6.4%
71638	Dermott	$53K	-22.4%	5.0%
71646	Hamburg	$103K	+2.3%	2.7%
71671	Warren	$104K	-8.6%	1.0%
71639	Dumas	$103K	+5.7%	0.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$720/mo

Home price / national median income1.7x

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.