The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lead Hill High School
Lead Hill High School serves grades seven through twelve in Boone County, Arkansas, as the sole secondary school within the Lead Hill School District. It is a small school, and its student body is overwhelmingly white, with a very small number of students who identify as Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or of two or more races. The school reports that nearly all of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a detail that points to the economic context of the community it serves.
The town of Lead Hill is a small, rural place anchored by Bull Shoals Lake, a major recreational draw for camping, boating, and swimming. The town’s economy rests on tourism tied to the lake and on small industry at a local industrial park. The school system is a central civic institution, and the high school sits within the town fabric rather than on a separated campus. Population growth in Lead Hill has been essentially flat, and no evidence of major new housing developments was found. The town is car-dependent, with state highways providing the main routes.
On state assessments, Lead Hill High School’s results are well below what is typical for schools across Arkansas. In math, the share of seventh graders scoring proficient or above was in the low single digits, and eighth-grade math proficiency was similarly low. In English language arts, results were also low, with roughly one in five eighth graders reaching the proficient mark. Science results were comparable to the ELA figures, with about one in five students in both seventh and eighth grades scoring proficient. These figures place the school’s overall academic performance in the bottom quarter among districts in Boone County. A parent considering this school may want to investigate what academic supports are available, how the school approaches instruction, and what interventions are in place for students who are not yet meeting state benchmarks.
Because the school’s grade band includes high school, a graduation rate would typically be reported here, but the data was not available. A parent may wish to ask the school directly about its four-year graduation rate and postsecondary placement. Also absent from the data were details on discipline, course access, staffing ratios, chronic absenteeism, and the share of students receiving special education or English learner services. No district-wide strategic priorities, recent curriculum changes, or tax referendums were found in a search of publicly available information, so it is not possible to describe any recent shifts at the district level.
Housing in the Lead Hill area is less expensive than the national median, and values have seen a modest decline recently. The typical home in the zip code is priced below the Arkansas state median, and monthly mortgage costs are well below the national average. This may be relevant for families weighing a move to the district.
Lead Hill High School is a very small, rural school serving a student population that is nearly all white and almost entirely low-income. Its state test results are low relative to county peers. For a family that values a small-town setting, lake recreation, and a school that is central to the community, this could be a fit. For families seeking a school with strong academic proficiency rates, the available evidence does not show that here, and they would want to look further into what the school offers in terms of academic support and advanced coursework.
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