The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Math. The lowest is 27% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ringgold Elementary School
Ringgold Elementary School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in the Benton School District, a public school system operating in the fast-growing Saline County suburb of Little Rock. The school is one of several elementary buildings in the district and sits on a campus within the city of Benton, a community that blends a historic downtown centered on the Saline County Courthouse with largely auto-oriented residential subdivisions and commercial strips. The area is accessible by Interstate 30 and has seen steady population growth in recent years, positioning it as part of the expanding Little Rock metropolitan area. Housing in the surrounding zip code is moderately priced, and the rental market reflects a similar pattern, which together suggest a community of mainly working and middle-class families.
Academically, Ringgold Elementary’s state testing results place the school in a challenging position relative to other districts in Saline County. On the ATLAS assessments administered in the 2024–25 school year, proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science ranged roughly from a quarter to a third of students meeting the state’s proficiency threshold in grades three and four. When averaged across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile when compared with other districts in Saline County. This is a soft spot that parents may want to discuss further with the school to understand what instructional supports and interventions are in place, particularly as students move into upper elementary grades where academic expectations intensify.
The school serves a student population that reflects the economic diversity of the community. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. The student body is predominantly white, with notable representation of Black and Hispanic students, as well as a smaller share of students who identify as two or more races. The enrollment is of moderate size for a primary school serving kindergarten through fourth grade, with roughly comparable class groups across each grade level. Data on special education identification and English learner status are not reported in the available records, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about services for students with disabilities or language support programs.
No information was available on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, teacher staffing ratios, or course access. Similarly, the school’s program offerings, such as gifted and talented, arts, or enrichment activities, were not captured in the data provided. The state testing data itself is the primary picture of academic performance, and it points to a school where a majority of students are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks in reading, math, or science at the tested grades. This does not mean the school lacks quality teaching or caring staff; it does mean that a family considering Ringgold should expect that their child may need additional academic support and that the school may be working to raise performance from a baseline that lags behind many of its county peers.
The broader district context includes a period of substantial capital investment, with a large construction expenditure reported in the most recent fiscal year available. That spending suggests the district is investing in facilities, which could be relevant for families looking at long-term stability and building conditions at Ringgold and other schools in the district. The city of Benton itself continues to grow, with planning and zoning activity indicating ongoing residential and commercial development along the highway corridor and in established neighborhoods.
For a family weighing whether Ringgold Elementary is a fit, the key considerations are its position as a high-need elementary school in a growing suburban district, with academic results that are modest compared to others in the county, and a student body shaped by economic diversity. Families who prioritize a neighborhood school close to home, who are prepared to supplement instruction or work closely with teachers on academic progress, and who want to be part of a community with active district-level facility investment may find Ringgold a viable option. Those seeking a school with consistently higher proficiency rates may want to compare options within the Benton district or among nearby districts in Saline County.
See more original research from School Decision →