Kipp: Blytheville College Prep, Blytheville AR

Original Research by School Decision on Kipp: Blytheville College Prep

KIPP: Blytheville College Prep is a public charter school in Blytheville serving kindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of the KIPP Delta Public Schools network, a system of charters operating in the Arkansas Delta. The school sits on South Franklin Street on the city’s south side.

The student body is overwhelmingly Black, with a much smaller share of Hispanic students and a very small number of white and Asian students. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the high level of economic need in the community. Blytheville itself has been losing population over recent decades, a trend that followed the closure of the nearby Air Force base. The local economy is now anchored by steel manufacturing—Nucor is the largest employer—alongside agriculture and a small but growing aviation-services sector at the former base, now the Arkansas Aeroplex. Housing values in the area sit well below both state and national medians, a fact that will matter to families weighing a move to the district.

On state assessments, the school’s results show a mixed picture that a parent will want to look into further. In math, proficiency rates across the tested grades cluster around the low to middle range, with one grade level notably lower. In English language arts, the pattern is similar, with most grade levels showing a modest share of students meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark. Science results also trend low. When compared against other districts within Mississippi County, the school’s overall proficiency index lands below the midpoint of the group, meaning several other districts in the county post higher combined scores. No graduation rate is reported because the school does not serve high school grades.

The school environment and governance data are thin. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, and course access was not available in the data provided. Families may want to ask the school directly about class sizes, teacher turnover, and what enrichment offerings are available for elementary and middle school students. The school is a charter, which means it operates with some independence from the traditional Blytheville Public Schools district, but it is still subject to state accountability standards.

For a parent considering KIPP: Blytheville College Prep, the core question is fit. The school serves a high-poverty population, which often means that a school’s staff and programs are built around the additional challenges that come with that context. KIPP schools nationally are known for a college-preparatory mission, extended school days, and an emphasis on high expectations, and this school’s name carries that branding. The available test data suggests the school is still working toward strong academic outcomes, and a parent should expect to be actively involved in monitoring their child’s progress. The surrounding community offers few of the amenities found in growing suburban districts, but housing is inexpensive and the local economy has a clear industrial base. The school’s small enrollment for its grade band means a parent may find a close-knit setting where staff can know each student.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 25% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median

Grade 437%

School 37% · District 27% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 14% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median

Grade 635%

School 35% · District 21% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median

English language arts

Grade 320%

School 20% · District 18% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median

Grade 426%

School 26% · District 27% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 13% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 20 pts below state median

Grade 625%

School 25% · District 22% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median

Science

Grade 320%

School 20% · District 18% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 16 pts below state median

Grade 414%

School 14% · District 25% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 12% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 14 pts below state median

Grade 615%

School 15% · District 14% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 18 pts below state median

This schoolKIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.