The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Science. The lowest is 29% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lamar Elementary School
Lamar Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Lamar School District, a small rural district in the Arkansas River Valley. The school is the only elementary campus in the district, feeding into Lamar Middle School and then Lamar High School. The town of Lamar itself is a small, primarily residential community along the I-40 corridor, with US Route 64 running through as Main Street. The area has seen steady but moderate population growth over the long term, and the school district is likely a significant local employer.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students identifying as Hispanic or as two or more races, and very small numbers from other racial and ethnic groups. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need.
On the 2024-25 state assessments, known as ATLAS, Lamar Elementary’s results show a pattern that deserves a close look by any family considering the school. In mathematics, proficiency rates declined notably from third to fifth grade. The share of students scoring proficient or above in third grade was moderate, fell somewhat in fourth grade, and then dropped sharply in fifth grade. In English language arts, the rates were lower across the board, with a slight decline from third to fifth grade. Science results showed a different pattern, with a moderate rate in third grade, a lower rate in fourth grade, and a rate in fifth grade that sat between the two. The overall picture is one of uneven performance, with particular soft spots in upper-elementary math and in English language arts across all tested grades.
Compared to other school districts in Johnson County, Lamar Elementary’s combined proficiency across all tested subjects and grades placed in the top quartile. This is a relative measure within a small county that includes only a handful of districts, so the comparison set is narrow. The school’s performance may look different when set against a wider state or national benchmark.
The school’s enrollment is spread roughly evenly across kindergarten through fifth grade, with somewhat larger groups in second, third, and fifth grades. No chronic absenteeism data, discipline data, or staffing information was available from the source. A parent may want to ask the school directly about class sizes, teacher retention, and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency standards. The district brief turned up no recent referendums, curriculum changes, or property tax shifts of lasting impact, so families should seek out current district communications for any upcoming changes.
The housing market in the area is relatively affordable compared to national averages, with home values below the state median. The town has a mix of older residential housing and limited commercial activity along Main Street. The community is rural and low-density, and the school sits within walking distance of the town’s Main Street corridor, though the exact campus location relative to downtown is not specified in available sources. No walkability scores, parks, or public transit systems were identified in the search results.
For a family deciding between this school and others, the key questions revolve around academic support. The school’s relative standing within Johnson County is a positive signal, but the declining math proficiency in fifth grade and the low English language arts rates across grades are reasons to investigate. A parent may want to discuss with the principal what interventions are in place for struggling readers and mathematicians, and how the school prepares students for the transition to middle school. The school’s strong economic need profile suggests that wraparound supports such as meal programs and community partnerships may be important elements of the student experience.
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