The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Science. The lowest is 47% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lake Hamilton Interm. School
Lake Hamilton Intermediate School serves fourth and fifth graders within the Lake Hamilton School District, drawing from the unincorporated community of Pearcy and the surrounding rural area south of Hot Springs. The school is the sole intermediate campus in the district, channeling students between the elementary level and the middle school. With an enrollment that is predominantly White and a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school reflects the broader economic demographics of its largely rural, owner-occupied residential setting.
Academically, the school posts results that, when looked at across all tested grades and subjects, place it above the midpoint relative to other districts in Garland County. Within the building, performance varies by grade and subject. In fourth grade, math proficiency outpaces English language arts, while both fourth and fifth graders show their strongest showing in science, where a majority of students meet the state's proficiency bar. Fifth grade math and English language arts results are softer; about half of students or slightly fewer reach proficiency in those areas. The gap between science and literacy or math scores is typical for many schools, but a parent may want to talk with the school about how reading and math support work for students who arrive below benchmark, especially as these skills underpin later academic success across all subjects.
The comparison data shows that this school's combined proficiency across all tested areas is stronger than that of most other schools whose districts belong to the same county-based comparison set. That is worth noting because the district itself is investing in academic programming. A new STEM-focused magnet program at the intermediate level was announced for the 2025-2026 school year, offering an application-based pathway for students interested in an integrated science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum. This sits alongside a larger district initiative, a major combined Career and Technical Education and athletics facility on the high school campus, which, while not directly touching intermediate students, signals an upward trajectory in program breadth that families with younger children may find relevant.
The town of Pearcy has no downtown or municipal center. It is a very low-density unincorporated area; daily life for residents revolves around county roads and access to the broader Hot Springs area for shopping, employment, and civic amenities. The school itself is located within the Lake Hamilton area rather than in a Pearcy town center. Housing in the ZIP code is overwhelmingly owner-occupied, with home values tracking a bit above the state median. There is no indication of major new housing developments, so the school's enrollment is likely to remain relatively stable from year to year.
The district's millage rate has held steady over several years, with recent capital projects funded through state partnership dollars and district reserves rather than a tax increase. That will matter to residents weighing property tax commitments.
What is not in this picture. The data do not include civil rights or discipline breakdowns, chronic absenteeism rates, staffing ratios, or English learner and special education population counts, so the profile of student support services is incomplete. The school serves only two grade levels, so there is no graduation rate to report and no high school course access. State testing data covers only the state's ATLAS assessment for one school year; multi-year trends were not available, which limits the ability to see whether the current results are an uptick or a stable pattern. A parent looking for a full picture of peer climate and support systems would benefit from visiting the campus and asking about the school's approach to intervention and enrichment across its tested grades.
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