The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Math. The lowest is 25% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Central Elementary School
Central Elementary School serves the community of Magnolia, Arkansas, as one of the elementary campuses within the Magnolia School District. The school enrolls students in grades three through five. Magnolia is a town with a distinct identity, functioning as both the Columbia County seat and a college town anchored by Southern Arkansas University, while its economic backbone is heavy industry including chemical plants, aluminum extrusion, steel, and timber. This gives the community a particular character, blending the rhythms of a university town with the workforce demands of an industrial hub. The city's downtown is centered on a historic courthouse square, and the surrounding region is marked by dense forest and farm prairies. Publicly reported information indicates a recent annexation of land east of the city, a growth-related development that residents may want to track.
The school’s student body is racially and ethnically diverse. The largest demographic group is Black or African American students, followed by White students, with smaller populations of students who are Hispanic or of two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch based on available data. The school serves a middle-elementary grade span, so there is no graduation rate to report, as that measure applies only to high schools.
On the Arkansas state assessment, known as the ATLAS, results across tested grades and subjects were reported for third, fourth, and fifth graders. Results for sixth grade, also listed in the data, were suppressed, which often reflects a small group size or a grade not tested at this site. In mathematics, proficiency rates for all students rose steadily by grade level, with the highest rate seen in fifth grade, while the rate in fourth grade was higher than in third. In English language arts, the pattern was more level; proficiency rates in third, fourth, and fifth grades were close to one another. In science, proficiency rates stood a bit higher than in English language arts and math, with the fifth-grade rate the highest among the three grade levels. Overall, the school’s proficiency index, a composite across tested subjects and grades, placed it above the midpoint when compared to the other district in Columbia County. The county contains only two school districts, so this comparison set is narrow.
The housing market context for families considering this area involves home values that are well below the state and national benchmarks. The typical home value in the area sits lower than the average for Arkansas and considerably lower than the national average, with a recent slight year-over-year decline. Mortgage rates nationally were elevated at the time of this data, which is a factor for any home-buying decision. Rental costs, measured by the consumer price index for rent of shelter, have been on a steady upward trend nationally. These figures describe a market where homeownership is relatively more affordable than in many parts of the country, though the local economic conditions, including an unemployment rate that reflects broader national trends, are part of the picture.
The data available on the school’s environment and access did not include details on discipline rates, course access, staffing ratios, or attendance figures. Title I status was not reported. No information on special education or English learner populations was available. The district brief found nothing of lasting impact to report regarding recent changes or strategic priorities. A parent may want to ask the school or district directly about student support services, class sizes, and enrichment offerings, as those details are not in the provided records. The school’s website was not included in the data, but the Magnolia School District’s central office would be a logical next point of contact.
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