The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Math. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lakeside Middle School
Lakeside Middle School serves fifth and sixth graders in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as part of the Lakeside School District in Garland County. The school sits on the southern edge of town near Lake Hamilton, in an area that blends suburban residential streets with the commercial tourism that defines Hot Springs. For families considering the school, the most important takeaway from the academic data is a clear split: math performance is a real strength, while reading and science results are softer.
On the state’s ATLAS assessments, math proficiency is notably solid. A comfortable majority of fifth graders and a large majority of sixth graders met the state’s proficiency benchmark. That places the school above the midpoint among all districts in Garland County when looking at overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. English language arts is the area where a parent would want to ask more questions. Less than half of students in both grades scored at the proficient level. Science results fall in the middle: around two-fifths of fifth graders and just under half of sixth graders met the science standard. The pattern is not unusual for a middle school that is still building foundational skills, but the gap between math and reading is wide enough to matter when choosing a school.
The student body is diverse in some ways and less so in others. The majority of students are white, with a notable presence of Hispanic and Black students, along with small shares of Asian, multiracial, and Native American students. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which gives a sense of the economic mix. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available. The school is not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not reported. It has no high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider.
Hot Springs itself is a resort city and county seat, known for its thermal bathhouses, Oaklawn Park horse racing, and the surrounding national park. The city has seen slow but steady growth in recent years. Home values in the school’s ZIP code are moderate, slightly below the state median. Rents have been rising but remain relatively affordable compared with the national market. Major local employers include Oaklawn Park, the National Park Service, and the hospitality industry. The downtown area is walkable with historic architecture and hiking trails, but the school’s immediate neighborhood is more residential and car-dependent.
No recent district-level changes were found in public reporting, so the school appears to be operating without major shifts in governance, curriculum, or funding. For a parent, this stability may be reassuring, though the lack of information about programs or extracurricular options means you would want to reach out to the school directly about what is offered. The school is part of a district that likely feeds into Lakeside High School, but the data available does not cover course access or middle school electives.
Overall, Lakeside Middle School offers a solid math program in a stable, middle-income community. The reading and science scores are areas to explore further with the school administration. The setting is a tourist-oriented small city with affordable housing and a moderate cost of living, which may appeal to families looking for a slower pace than larger metro areas. The peer environment is mixed economically, and the absence of data on special education and English learner services is a gap a parent would want to fill by visiting or calling the school.
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