The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in Math. The lowest is 72% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Vandergriff Elementary School
Vandergriff Elementary School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Fayetteville, a city that blends university life, downtown activity, and suburban residential neighborhoods. The school sits in the eastern part of the city, within the Fayetteville School District. A parent considering this school is looking at an elementary that feeds into the district’s older elementary, middle, and high schools, so the full pathway extends beyond this building.
The student body is large for an elementary, and its composition is something a family would notice. The vast majority of students are white. The next largest groups are students who identify as two or more races and Hispanic students, each present in modest shares. Asian students also attend in a smaller but measurable share. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is low, which places the school in an economically different position than many others in the county. Data on special education and English learner enrollment were not available here; a parent who wants that information should ask the school directly.
Academically, this school posted strong results on the state’s ATLAS assessments. In third-grade math, a large majority of students scored proficient or above. Fourth-grade math was similarly strong. In English language arts, third-grade proficiency was solid and fourth-grade proficiency was higher. In science, both grades produced strong numbers, with fourth-grade science particularly high. Looking across subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the district’s peers in Washington County. That is a clear strength. A parent interested in a school where a high share of students meet state standards should find this performance reassuring.
Because the school serves only through fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. That is expected for an elementary school and does not reflect on the school itself.
The housing context matters for families deciding to move into the attendance zone. Home values in the area sit well above the statewide benchmark and above the national benchmark as well. Rents follow a similar pattern. That makes this part of Fayetteville an expensive entry point compared to much of Arkansas. The local unemployment rate at the time of this data was consistent with the national picture, and the broader economic context shows a growing city. Fayetteville itself is part of a rapidly expanding metropolitan region, and the school benefits from being in a district that serves a university town with civic anchors like the Walton Arts Center and Razorback Stadium.
One lasting district-level factor that affects all Fayetteville schools, including Vandergriff, is a failed millage referendum from 2024. Voters narrowly rejected a property tax increase that would have funded teacher salaries, technology, and facility upgrades. The district’s millage rate remains among the lowest in Northwest Arkansas. That means the district operates with less local revenue per student than many nearby peers. What this translates to for families is a potential constraint on the district’s ability to raise pay competitively and to update buildings and equipment at the same pace as neighboring districts. A parent who values sustained investment in facilities and compensation may want to follow future funding discussions.
The data does not include information on specific program offerings, class sizes, or staffing ratios. Without that, a fuller picture of the daily classroom experience is not possible from this source. Similarly, discipline data and chronic absenteeism rates are absent. A parent can fill those gaps by talking to the school or visiting.
This is a high-performing elementary school in an affluent, growing part of a university city, serving a student body that is economically well-off relative to the county. The academic results are among the strongest in the county. The main open question is how the district’s tight local revenue will affect long-term resource levels, and that is a question that applies district-wide, not just to this one school.
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