The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in Math. The lowest is 32% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Calico Rock High School
Calico Rock High School serves grades seven through twelve for the Calico Rock School District, a small community in the Ozarks along the White River. The town has seen notable population growth in recent years, moving from a long period of decline to a period of active revitalization. The high school is deeply embedded in this town fabric, and it is the only public high school in the district, drawing students from the immediate area.
The student body is small and overwhelmingly white, with a very small number of Hispanic students and even fewer students identifying as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander or two or more races. Nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic context of the community. The school serves a population where a high share of families have low incomes, and this shapes the support the school provides. The district publicly describes itself as having one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the state, which suggests that class sizes are small and students receive a good measure of individual attention.
On state assessments, the proficiency picture varies by subject and grade level. In seventh-grade math, just under half of students scored proficient or above. In eighth-grade math, the share was higher, sitting above three-fifths of students tested. Reading and English language arts results were softer at both tested grade levels, with roughly three in ten seventh and eighth graders meeting the proficiency bar. Science results were mixed: seventh graders posted a rate just above a third proficient, while eighth graders came in at just under half. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint when compared to the other districts in Izard County, meaning that within this local set of schools, performance is toward the upper half.
No four-year graduation rate was reported for this school. State testing data for grades nine through twelve was also not available, which is common when those grades do not take the same statewide assessments as the younger grades or when the tested population is too small to report. A parent looking for high school outcomes beyond the seventh- and eighth-grade results may want to ask the school directly about its graduation rate, college-going rate, or postsecondary plans for its older students.
The school offers some course access, and the district profile highlights its small size and individual attention as a core feature. The town itself provides a range of amenities unusual for a community this size. City parks offer walking trails, a disc golf course that is ranked highly within the state, athletic fields, and a boat ramp on the White River. A full-service hospital and a free museum and visitor center are downtown. The town has grown in population, and the city actively promotes tourism and business development. Home values in the area are described as well below the national average, which, combined with the low cost of living, makes this a place where a family may find housing more attainable than in many other parts of the country.
No recent parent-relevant changes to the district were found in publicly reported sources. The district brief turned up only static profile information, which means this narrative cannot speak to any recent program additions, boundary adjustments, or leadership transitions.
For a family considering this school, the picture is straightforward. Academically, Calico Rock High School posts mixed to moderately positive proficiency results relative to its immediate county neighbors, with a notable gap between math and reading performance. The school is small and serves a student body that is economically homogenous. The community is growing, affordable, and offers genuine civic and recreational anchors. A parent who values small classes, a rural setting, and a school that is central to the town’s life may find this a good fit. A parent who wants to see stronger reading scores or a more detailed record of high school outcomes will want to follow up with the school directly.
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