The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Dermott Elementary School
Dermott Elementary School serves children from kindergarten through sixth grade in the small Delta town of Dermott, Arkansas. It is the only elementary school in the Dermott School District, a district that also operates a high school for the community's older students. The school sits on Speedway Street near the town center, in a setting of wide, tree-lined streets planted with oaks more than a century ago.
The student body is small, and the composition is almost entirely Black, with a very small number of white, Hispanic, and multiracial students. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic conditions of a town that has seen population decline over many decades. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those programs and services.
Arkansas administers the ATLAS state assessment to students in grades three through six, and the results for this school show that the share of students scoring proficient or above was low across all tested subjects. In mathematics, the rate fell sharply from third to fifth grade and remained low in sixth. In English language arts, the rate was higher in third and fourth grade, then dropped. Science results followed a similar pattern. Across the grades and subjects, the overall proficiency index places the school above the midpoint relative to districts in Chicot County, a comparison set that includes only two districts, meaning the difference between them is slim. A parent looking at these numbers will want to discuss with the school how it supports academic growth and whether interventions are in place for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was provided.
The town of Dermott itself is a compact community of about a few thousand residents, with an economy historically rooted in agriculture and timber. Its population fell substantially from a mid-twentieth-century peak and then ticked up slightly in the most recent estimate, but the housing market reflects the area's economic challenges. Home values are very low compared to state and national figures, and a sizable portion of housing units are vacant. The Dermott School District is likely one of the larger local employers. Civic anchors include a public library branch, Lake Wallace for recreation, a municipal airport, and an annual community festival.
No recent district-level changes such as boundary shifts, curriculum overhauls, or tax referenda were identified in publicly available sources, so the district appears to have been stable in its operations.
For a family considering this school, the main picture is of a small, rural elementary school serving a high-need population in a town that has experienced long-term economic contraction. Academic proficiency rates are low, though the school sits narrowly above the midpoint among the county's two districts. A parent would want to understand what academic support structures, enrichment opportunities, and community partnerships exist, and how the school addresses the challenges that come with concentrated poverty. The school's setting offers a quiet, small-town environment with some local recreational options, but broader employment and housing opportunities are limited within the town itself.
See more original research from School Decision →