The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Math. The lowest is 40% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Cabot Middle School South
Cabot Middle School South serves fifth and sixth graders within the Cabot School District, a system that is the city’s defining institution. The school itself is one of two middle schools in a district that also includes multiple elementary schools, junior highs, a freshman academy, and a high school, all spread across a fast-growing commuter city roughly 20 miles northeast of Little Rock. The student body is sizeable for a two-grade school, and the community it draws from is predominantly White, with notable shares of Hispanic students, students who identify as two or more races, Black students, and a small Asian population. Just under half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that aligns with the broader economic mix of Cabot, where the median household income sits moderately above the national figure and the cost of housing remains attainable by national standards.
On state assessments administered through Arkansas’s ATLAS system, proficiency rates varied noticeably by subject and grade. In math, the sixth-grade cohort posted a stronger result than the fifth-grade cohort, while in English language arts both grades showed similar outcomes, with fewer than half of students meeting the proficiency standard. Science performance was mixed: fifth graders cleared the bar at a rate a bit higher than sixth graders. Across all tested subjects and grades combined, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile relative to other school districts in Lonoke County. Because Cabot Middle School South only covers grades five and six, state reporting does not include a graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data for this campus; those metrics apply to high schools.
The school sits within a district that has not reported any recent major changes in bond issues, curriculum overhauls, or construction projects in publicly available records. The municipality of Cabot, however, has experienced sustained growth for years, driven by families moving from the Little Rock area for a lower cost of living and the reputation of the school system. The city is auto-oriented, with state highways and a future interstate corridor providing regional connectivity, and the Little Rock Air Force Base in nearby Jacksonville is a significant employer for residents. The downtown area features a civic plaza that houses city offices, and the high school campus sits just south of downtown, but most other school campuses are spread across the suburban landscape.
No information was available in the data about the school’s specific program offerings, staffing ratios, discipline rates, or attendance patterns. A parent considering Cabot Middle School South will find a mid-sized, demographically typical suburban middle school within a district that anchors a growing community. The academic picture is mixed: English language arts proficiency is an area where a parent may want to look into the school’s literacy support and instruction more closely, while math and science show stronger results in some grade levels. The school’s overall performance positions it well among its county peers, though the comparison set is small, comprising only four districts. Cabot’s fast growth means the district may face ongoing enrollment pressures and facility needs, but the district brief found no evidence of recent ballot measures or school boundary adjustments. For families who value a suburban setting with regional access to employment centers and a school system that is a central part of the city’s identity, this middle school fits that profile.
See more original research from School Decision →