The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Math. The lowest is 35% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Nashville Elementary School
Nashville Elementary School serves grades four through six in the Nashville School District, a small rural district in Howard County, Arkansas. It is not a charter or magnet school. The school sits in the town of Nashville, the county seat, a place with a historic downtown commercial district and a quiet, car-oriented layout. The surrounding economy blends county government, manufacturing, and cattle and chicken farming. The town’s population has been gradually declining, and the school’s enrollment reflects a community that is modest in size.
On state assessments administered through Arkansas’s ATLAS system, Nashville Elementary shows a mixed picture. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above varies by grade, with grade four reaching a level that is higher than the school’s own middle and upper grades. English language arts proficiency rates are lower, hovering at slightly more than a third of students across grades four, five, and six. Science results follow a similar pattern: grade four posts a stronger outcome, while grades five and six sit lower. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint when compared with the other school districts in Howard County. Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline were available in the records examined.
The student body is economically diverse by circumstance rather than by choice. An overwhelming share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a signal that the school serves a community with concentrated economic need. Racially and ethnically, the enrollment is mixed: white students make up roughly half, with sizable shares of Hispanic and Black students, and a small number of Asian and Native American students. The school does not report the share of students with disabilities or English learners in the available data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Housing in Nashville is relatively affordable by national standards, with home values well below the national median. The local housing market has seen modest appreciation. Monthly mortgage costs for a typical home, based on prevailing interest rates, would be well below the national average, making the area accessible for many families. The town is compact, with schools and civic buildings near the downtown core. The Cossatot Community College campus sits west of town, offering some postsecondary options locally.
A parent looking at this school should weigh a few things. Academic proficiency rates, particularly in reading and in upper-grade math and science, are areas where many students are not yet meeting the state’s bar. That does not mean the school is failing; it means a family may want to understand what interventions or support programs are in place. The high rate of economic disadvantage means the school likely qualifies for federal Title I funding and may offer additional resources such as free meals and targeted academic help, though the data set does not confirm Title I status directly. The school’s position relative to other districts in the county suggests it performs near the top of a small cohort, but those districts are few and the comparison is narrow.
For a family already rooted in Nashville or the surrounding rural area, Nashville Elementary is the local public option for these middle elementary years. The town itself offers a quiet, slow-paced environment with some historic character and a handful of civic anchors, including a city park and a museum. The district did not report any recent major changes or disruptions, so the school appears to be operating in a steady state. A parent considering a move here should contact the school directly about class sizes, enrichment programs, and how the school addresses the academic gaps visible in the state test results.
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