The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Math. The lowest is 31% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hazen Elementary School
Hazen Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade and is the only elementary school in the Hazen School District, a small rural district in Prairie County, Arkansas. The school sits within the town of Hazen, a community of about that size located roughly an hour east of Little Rock along the Interstate 40 corridor. The town itself sits in the Grand Prairie agricultural region, and its biggest annual event is the Rice Festival in October. Hazen has seen a modest population decline in recent years, and the school district has absorbed students from surrounding districts through consolidation. The elementary school’s enrollment is small, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The student body is predominantly white, with Black students making up the next largest group. Hispanic students and students identifying as two or more races each account for a small share. Data on the share of students receiving special education services or identified as English learners was not available in the record, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports those populations.
State testing data from the 2024-25 school year, Arkansas’s ATLAS assessment, is available for grades three through six in math, English language arts, and science. Proficiency rates across the tested grades and subjects put the school above the midpoint among districts in Prairie County, though the comparison set is small. Within the school, results vary by grade and subject. In mathematics, third and sixth graders showed proficiency rates in the mid-forties, while fourth and fifth graders posted lower rates in the high twenties to mid-thirties. In English language arts, the range was similar, with fifth graders reaching the high thirties and fourth graders the low twenties. Science results were mixed, with fourth graders reaching the high thirties and sixth graders below thirty percent. While the school’s overall proficiency index lands above the midpoint in the county, a parent may want to look into whether the variation across grades reflects cohort differences or instructional patterns.
Because Hazen Elementary serves only through sixth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. That metric does not apply here, as students move on to the district’s secondary school for grades seven through twelve.
The town of Hazen is rural, with a small downtown core along the highway corridors. The school is integrated within the community fabric rather than set apart on a distant campus. The district’s buildings sit on North Hazen Avenue, close to the public library, the community center, and the historic Rock Island Depot. Major local employers include the school district itself, along with medical clinics and a nursing home. No large industrial employers are present, and the local economy is tied to agriculture, particularly rice farming.
No information was available on program offerings such as gifted and talented, specials, or enrichment activities. The record also lacked data on discipline rates, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism. A parent looking into those details would need to follow up with the school or district.
For a family considering this school, the picture is of a small rural elementary in a town with limited economic growth, serving a student population where a majority come from low-income households. The proficiency numbers place the school above the midpoint within its county, but the variation across grades is worth understanding. The school’s size and setting mean that classmates are likely to be local children from the same town and the surrounding agricultural area. For parents who value a close-knit community school in a rural setting, Hazen Elementary fits that description. Those looking for more detailed information on academic support, enrichment, or school climate should seek it directly from the school office.
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