Original Research by School Decision on Paragould High School
Paragould High School serves grades nine through twelve and is the sole high school within the Paragould School District. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a smaller Hispanic population and an even smaller share of Black students. A very small number of Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students and students of two or more races are also enrolled. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which places the entire student population under that economic marker.
There is no state testing data available for Paragould High School for the most recent school year. Arkansas changed its assessment system, switching to a new test called ATLAS and the Dynamic Learning Maps, and also adjusted the cut scores that define proficiency. Because of those changes, the state did not produce a comparable proficiency rate for any grade or subject. A parent or resident looking for a straightforward measure of academic performance will need to look elsewhere for a quantitative picture. Test results from prior years, or other indicators such as classroom grades, college entrance exam participation, and course completion rates, may offer a more useful view of student learning.
The school is not a charter school, and its magnet status is not listed. Information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, and staffing was not available. The four-year graduation rate was also missing, likely because the state's assessment transition affected the reporting of that metric. A parent interested in these areas would want to ask the school directly for current graduation numbers and attendance patterns.
Paragould is the county seat of Greene County and the principal city of a micropolitan statistical area. It is a working-class city with a mix of manufacturing, healthcare, and retail employment. Major employers include a hospital, the two public school districts in the area, and a wind turbine manufacturing plant. The city has been growing steadily, with new housing developments expanding to the west and south. The high school sits on the western edge of town, and the area around it is primarily automobile-oriented, with low-density residential and highway commercial development. Civic life centers on a traditional downtown with a historic courthouse, a public library, and a Chamber of Commerce, but the school campuses, including Paragould High School, are spread across the city rather than clustered downtown.
The district brief turned up no recent changes or developments of lasting impact for the Paragould School District. No new building programs, boundary changes, leadership shifts, or program launches were publicly reported in a way that would affect a parent's decision. That may reflect a period of stability, or simply that the district has not generated significant news coverage. A family evaluating the school will want to contact the district office or visit the school to learn about current academic programs, extracurricular offerings, and any upcoming changes.
For a parent considering this school, the central takeaway is that the state's testing data is absent due to a system-wide transition, not because of anything specific to Paragould High School. The school serves a student population that is economically homogenous and predominantly white, set in a growing but still modest-sized city with an industrial and agricultural economic base. Without test scores or a graduation rate, the school's academic profile is harder to gauge from the outside, so direct inquiry with the school about course offerings, Advanced Placement or concurrent credit options, and post-graduation outcomes will be essential.
See more original research from School Decision →