The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Science. The lowest is 45% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Holt Middle School
Holt Middle School serves fifth and sixth graders in the Fayetteville School District, a middle school that captures students in the two years after elementary school and before they move up to a traditional junior high. It is a school of moderate size for that two-grade span, and the student body reflects the diversity of a growing university town. More than half of Holt’s students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a middle ground economically within a district that draws families from across the income spectrum.
The city of Fayetteville is defined by the University of Arkansas, the state’s flagship campus, which gives downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods a steady hum of student life and cultural activity. The presence of the university, along with Washington County government, anchors the local economy. Growth has been fast, and the seamless urban corridor north toward Springdale means many families live in newer subdivisions on that side of town. Holt Middle School sits on the northwest edge of Fayetteville, a location that serves a mix of established neighborhoods and newer residential development.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Holt’s results sit near the middle of the pack among its peers. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades landed above the midpoint relative to districts in Washington County. In math, roughly half of fifth graders and half of sixth graders scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, the share was a bit lower for sixth graders, while fifth graders were near the same half-reached mark. Science results for both grades hit right around the midpoint, with about half of students demonstrating proficiency. To get a fuller picture of academic growth from year to year, a parent may want to ask how the school tracks student progress between those two grade levels, since the data here capture only a single year’s snapshot.
The Fayetteville School District recently went through a significant community decision. In May 2024, voters narrowly rejected a proposed property tax increase that would have raised money for teacher and staff salaries, technology, and facility upgrades. The district’s millage rate stayed among the lowest in Northwest Arkansas, which means Holt Middle School and other district schools operate with less local revenue per student than many of their neighbors. That constraint may show up in teacher pay, classroom technology, and the pace of building maintenance over time. Families moving into the area who are comparing school funding across districts should be aware of this local context.
Information on special education services and English learner programs at Holt was not available in the data reviewed. A parent with a child who has an Individualized Education Program or who is an English language learner should contact the school directly to understand the specific supports in place. The school follows a standard two-year middle school model, and because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
Housing in the zip codes that serve Holt Middle School runs above the national median home value, reflecting the broader Fayetteville market’s desirability and the draw of the university. Rents are also above the national average. For a family, the choice to live in this part of Fayetteville means access to a school that mirrors the district’s middle-of-the-road academic profile and serves a economically diverse student population. The failed millage vote is a lasting local fact that may matter to parents who place a priority on per-pupil funding and teacher compensation. Holt itself offers no unusual program differentiators in the available data, and its strength is simply being a solid, representative option within a district that serves a rapidly growing city.
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