The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Founders Classical Academies of Ar West Little Rock Elem
Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas West Little Rock Elementary is a small charter school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Little Rock. As part of the Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas district, it follows a classical education model, though the data does not include detailed curriculum or program information. The school is quite small, with an enrollment that makes it one of the smallest elementary schools in the area. Its student body is diverse: roughly half of students are Black, a quarter are White, and over a fifth are Hispanic, with small shares of Asian and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a mix of economic backgrounds.
State assessment results are available only for sixth grade, and the data for third through fifth grades is suppressed, likely because the small number of students tested in those grades does not meet reporting thresholds. In sixth grade, math proficiency was low, with about a quarter of students meeting the state standard. Reading proficiency was stronger, with nearly half of students scoring proficient or above. Science proficiency fell in between, with roughly a third of students reaching that level. These are single-year, single-grade results, so drawing broader conclusions about the school’s academic performance is difficult. That said, when the school’s overall proficiency index (the average of its reported rates across tested subjects and grades) is compared to other districts in Pulaski County, it lands in the top quartile. This suggests that, at least for the one grade where data is available, the school’s performance is relatively strong among its county peers.
Little Rock is Arkansas’s capital and largest city, a mix of government, healthcare, and commercial activity. Major employers include the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dillard’s, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The city has a walkable downtown core around the River Market district and the Arkansas River Trail, though much of the broader city is car-dependent. Housing values in the school’s ZIP code are above the state average and close to the national median, while rents are also elevated. The local economy is stable, with unemployment at moderate levels and median household income slightly above the national figure.
The school’s district, Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas, has added online and virtual schooling options in recent years, giving families alternatives to the physical campuses. This particular campus is one of three brick-and-mortar locations, the others being in Bentonville and Rogers. No data on staffing, class sizes, discipline, or attendance was available, so a parent may want to inquire directly about those aspects of the school environment.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or high school pathway to evaluate. For families considering a classical charter school in Little Rock, this is a small, diverse school where test performance in the one grade with reported data is above the county median. The limited academic data and the suppressed results for lower grades mean that a parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly for insight into how younger students are progressing. The school’s size and classical approach will appeal to some families, while others may want more information about student support and day-to-day operations before deciding.
See more original research from School Decision →