Estem Elementary School, Little Rock AR

Original Research by School Decision on Estem Elementary School

Estem Elementary School is a public charter school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in downtown Little Rock. The school is part of the Estem Public Charter School district, which has expanded from its original three downtown campuses to five schools, adding East Village Elementary and East Village Junior High in recent years.

The student body reflects the diversity of the surrounding city. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of white, Hispanic, and two-or-more-races students, as well as small numbers of Asian, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students.

On the most recent state assessments, administered through Arkansas's ATLAS test, the school's proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades sit in the top quartile of elementary schools in Pulaski County. That said, the rates themselves are mixed. In math, just under one in three students across grades three through six scored proficient. In English language arts, about one in three students scored proficient. In science, roughly one in four students scored proficient. Performance varies by grade and subject, with some grade levels showing higher proficiency than others. A parent may want to ask the school how it approaches academic support for students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks.

Data on chronic absenteeism and graduation rates were not available. Since the school serves only through sixth grade, a graduation rate would not apply here.

The school is located at 112 West 3rd Street in downtown Little Rock. The area is a mix of government, commercial, healthcare, and residential uses. Little Rock is the state capital and largest city, with a broad set of employers including UAMS, Dillard's, Arkansas Children's Hospital, and state government. The River Market district nearby offers restaurants, shops, and cultural venues, and the Arkansas River Trail provides a significant pedestrian and bicycle corridor.

Housing values in the ZIP code area appear somewhat lower than national benchmarks, though specific comparisons are limited. The area has experienced an annual decline in home values, contrasting with modest growth nationally. Rental costs are available but a year-over-year comparison was not. These numbers should be viewed as a general snapshot rather than a precise prediction of what any family would pay.

The school's charter was set to expire in 2023 but publicly reported accreditation records show all district schools remain accredited, indicating the charter was renewed. This secures the school's ongoing operation for enrolled families. The district has also added capacity with new campuses, which may be relevant for families considering future enrollment or siblings at different grade levels.

For a family considering this school, the central downtown location, charter status, and diverse elementary enrollment are key characteristics. The academic performance data show room for improvement in some areas, which a parent would want to explore further by visiting the school or speaking with staff about specific academic programs and support. The school's position in Pulaski County's top quartile for overall proficiency should not obscure the fact that a majority of students are not yet scoring proficient in any tested subject. This is a school whose profile may appeal to families who value its charter structure, location, and diversity but who will want a clear picture of its academic trajectory and interventions.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 29% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 440%

School 40% · District 35% · ▲ 4 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 27% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 31% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 339%

School 39% · District 31% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 430%

School 30% · District 28% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 28% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 636%

School 36% · District 36%

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Science

Grade 333%

School 33% · District 26% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 27% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 21% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 31% · ▲ 2 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

This schoolESTEM PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income30%Higher-income35%5 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income25%Higher-income33%8 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income24%Higher-income53%29 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income25%Higher-income35%10 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income38%Higher-income35%3 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income34%Higher-income50%16 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income7%Higher-income22%15 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income18%Higher-income58%40 pp gap