The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Math. The lowest is 34% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Beebe Middle School
Beebe Middle School serves fifth and sixth graders in the Beebe School District, a system whose schools are clustered on a single large campus just across the street from Arkansas State University-Beebe. This education corridor is the defining feature of the town, linking the public schools with the two-year college and technical center. Beebe itself has grown substantially in recent decades, and the school district expanded years ago when nearby McRae schools were consolidated into it. The town’s downtown, anchored by a historic railroad station, is a short drive north along West Center Street, but the school’s immediate surroundings are defined by the campus setting and the highway connectivity that comes with being at the crossroads of US 64 and Interstate 57.
The student body is predominantly white, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is roughly mid-sized for a two-grade middle school, with enrollment spread fairly evenly between fifth and sixth grade. State assessment data for the most recent testing year shows that in math, more than two-fifths of students scored at the proficient level or above in both grades tested. In reading and language arts, the share scoring proficient or above was somewhat lower, in the mid-thirties. Science proficiency rates were also in the low-to-mid thirties.
When placed against other schools in White County districts, Beebe Middle School’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint of the comparison set. This is not a dramatic outlier, but a parent looking at the numbers will see that the school’s academic performance, particularly in English language arts and science, has room to grow relative to some nearby peers. No chronic absenteeism or graduation data is available, and that is expected: this is a fifth- and sixth-grade school, so those metrics simply do not apply.
Beebe’s housing market, relative to national benchmarks, is more affordable. Median home values are below the national figure but roughly in line with the statewide average, and rents are modest. The local unemployment rate has been stable, near the national level, and median household income in the broader area is somewhat below the national figure. The town’s economy includes retail, healthcare, and the presence of Arkansas State University-Beebe as a major employer. Many residents commute, with an average travel time that suggests a notable number work elsewhere, likely toward Little Rock or Searcy.
No district-wide strategic changes or parent-relevant developments were found in publicly available sources, so the reader should not assume any recent disruption or major new initiative. No program listings, discipline data, or staffing information were available for this school, so those dimensions of student experience cannot be characterized here. A parent may want to ask the school directly about course offerings, special education services, and the support available for students who are below grade level in reading and math.
The combination of modest academic results, a relatively affordable housing market, and a town whose identity is tightly tied to its education corridor may appeal to families who value having a K-12 campus adjacent to a community college. For parents weighing this school against other options in White County, the proficiency data is the most concrete point of comparison, and it suggests that the school sits in the lower half of the county’s districts in overall academic performance. The absence of other data points makes it hard to say much more about enrichment, student support, or school climate, so a visit or a conversation with current families would be a natural next step.
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