The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Math. The lowest is 44% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Pea Ridge Middle School
Pea Ridge Middle School serves fifth and sixth graders in the Pea Ridge School District, a system located in the fast-growing northwest corner of Arkansas. The school sits in a small city that has seen its population increase dramatically, a trend driven by the broader economic expansion of the Northwest Arkansas region anchored by major corporate employers nearby. The town itself retains a historic downtown core listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and streets are named after participants of the Civil War battle that gives the town its name. For a family considering this school, the context is a community in the midst of rapid suburbanization, where new residential subdivisions are filling in around a compact historic center.
The student body at Pea Ridge Middle School is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population representing a meaningful share of the enrollment. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that while the area is growing, a significant number of families face economic pressures common in many expanding suburban towns. The school serves only two grade levels, which means it is a focused transition point between elementary and the upper grades of the district.
Academically, the school's performance on the state's ATLAS assessments presents a mixed picture that a parent will want to understand carefully. In mathematics, results climb notably from fifth to sixth grade, with proficiency reaching a level that is a strength for the school. In English language arts, the picture is softer. Proficiency in fifth and sixth grade both fall below the midpoint, a pattern that suggests this is an area where many students need additional support. Science results are stronger in fifth grade but dip in sixth grade, a drop a parent may want to inquire about with the school to understand what drives it. When compared to other districts across Benton County, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile, which is a positive signal in a county with a wide range of performance levels.
A parent should note that some data common to many schools is not available here. Information on students with disabilities and English learners is missing from the available data, as are disciplinary records, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism rates. The school serves only grades five and six, so there is no graduation rate to report. These gaps mean a family's full picture of student support and school climate will come from talking directly with the school or from other local sources.
The housing context for families moving to the area is shaped by significant growth. Home values in the area are above the state benchmark and close to the national average, with rents slightly more affordable relative to local incomes than the national norm. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate environment at the time of this analysis is elevated, which affects monthly costs for buyers. For a family weighing this school, the financial picture is one of a hot housing market in a growing region where demand is high.
The district itself, according to publicly reported information, has not had a recent major change such as a bond election or millage increase that would reshape facilities or programming in a way that would show up in search results. A parent looking at Pea Ridge Middle School is evaluating a school in a district that appears stable in its operations, without a recent disruption to the academic program or building plans that would be widely reported.
This school fits a family looking for a midsized middle school in a rapidly growing small city that is part of a dynamic regional economy. The academic story is one where math performance is a clear strength and English language arts is an area where the school's results are less consistent, and a parent should plan to ask how the school supports literacy growth across the two years students are there. The community context is a town that has grown very quickly while trying to maintain its historic identity, and the school sits within that tension. For a parent who wants a school that serves as a stepping stone between elementary and high school in a district that is part of a strong-growth region, Pea Ridge Middle School warrants a close look, particularly on the academic areas where the data shows room for improvement.
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