The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in Science. The lowest is 57% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on R.e. Baker Elementary School
R.E. Baker Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bentonville, Arkansas, serving kindergarten through fourth grade. It sits within the Bentonville School District, a system that covers a city that has become one of the fastest-growing in the country, anchored by Walmart’s corporate headquarters and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The school is located in the downtown area, on Northwest Third Street, close to the historic town square.
Academically, R.E. Baker posts solid results on the state’s ATLAS assessments, the test Arkansas uses to measure proficiency in math, English language arts, and science. State testing data is available only for grades three and four, which is typical for an elementary school that does not serve older grades. In both grade levels, a majority of students met or exceeded the proficiency bar in each subject. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among districts in Benton County. That means its combined performance sits above the midpoint of the county’s fourteen school districts, a strong showing. The fourth-grade math results were particularly high relative to other tested areas. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available in the provided information.
The student body is diverse. A majority of students are white, and a substantial share are Hispanic, with smaller populations of Asian, Black, multiracial, Native American, and Pacific Islander students. A significant portion of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a mix of economic backgrounds within the attendance zone. The school serves roughly the size expected for a K-4 elementary, with enrollment distributed across the five grades. Data on the share of students with disabilities or English learner status was not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those support programs.
From a housing and community perspective, families considering R.E. Baker are looking at a fast-growing, economically dynamic area. Home values in the surrounding zip code are high, well above state and national averages, and rents have been rising. The market is tight, with ownership costs outpacing what renting would cost. The broader Bentonville economy is dominated by Walmart’s corporate presence and a growing arts and tourism sector, with large infrastructure investments underway including a new Walmart headquarters campus and a major expansion of Crystal Bridges. The city’s population has grown rapidly, and the school sits in a neighborhood that blends historic downtown character with new development. The downtown square is walkable, with shops, restaurants, and civic buildings, and an extensive trail system connects recreational areas.
The school itself is a traditional public school, not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not specified in the data. The district brief turned up no recent publicly reported information about major curriculum changes, new school openings, or referendums, so those areas remain uncharacterized here. No course access, staffing ratios, or discipline data were available for this school, which is common for elementary schools where those metrics are less frequently published at the building level.
For a family weighing this school, the takeaway is straightforward. R.E. Baker offers a strong academic foundation within a high-performing district, set in a rapidly growing city with a robust economy and a vibrant downtown. The student body is economically diverse, and the school’s location provides proximity to Bentonville’s cultural and civic amenities. A parent looking into student-support specifics such as English learner services or special education would need to follow up with the school directly, as those details were not part of the available record.
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