The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Fordyce High School
Fordyce High School serves grades seven through twelve in a small, rural county seat in south-central Arkansas. The school is part of the Fordyce School District, and nearly every enrolled student comes from a household that qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, placing this community among those with very high economic need.
State testing results from the most recent school year show that proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science fall in a low range for both seventh and eighth grade, the only levels tested. In seventh-grade math, roughly a quarter of students scored at the proficient or above level. Eighth-grade math recorded no students reaching that benchmark. In English language arts, about one in five seventh graders and fewer than one in five eighth graders were proficient. Science proficiency for both grades was below one in five. These numbers reflect the school’s scores on the Arkansas ATLAS assessment and are well below statewide averages. A parent looking at these results will want to ask the school directly about academic supports, intervention programs, and how the school measures growth for students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards.
The student body of Fordyce High School is majority Black, with a substantial White minority and a small Hispanic presence. The school enrolls just over three hundred and fifty students in grades seven through twelve, making it a small high school by national standards. Class sizes by grade are roughly even, with a slight bulge in ninth grade. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials, so a parent who needs information on special education or language services should request that directly from the school.
Fordyce itself is a town in long-term population decline, having shrunk steadily since its peak decades ago. The local economy historically rested on timber and lumber, anchored by Georgia-Pacific’s plywood plant, and by a healthcare and residential services employer. Downtown retains a historic commercial district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the county courthouse, a museum, and an old railroad depot serve as civic touchpoints. Housing values in the area are low relative to state and national benchmarks, which is consistent with the area’s economic circumstances. The town is car-dependent, with limited pedestrian infrastructure. No recent district-level changes such as boundary shifts, curriculum overhauls, or tax referenda were found in public sources.
The school does not report a graduation rate in the data provided, so that measure is not available for review. Information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, course offerings such as Advanced Placement or career and technical education tracks, and staffing ratios are also absent from the available records. These gaps mean a family evaluating Fordyce High School will need to gather that information from the school or district office. The lack of a graduation rate is notable, but it may be a data-reporting gap rather than a reflection of the school’s actual outcomes.
Fordyce High School serves a population with deep economic need and produces state test scores that are low compared to state averages. The school is small, rural, and situated in a community that has seen decades of population decline. A family considering this school would want to understand what academic interventions and enrichment opportunities are in place, how the school supports students toward graduation, and what the post-secondary pathways look like for its graduates. These are questions best answered by visiting the school and speaking directly with the principal and counselors.
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