The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Math. The lowest is 26% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ozark Middle School
Ozark Middle School is the only public middle school in the Ozark School District, serving students in grades six and seven. The school is located in Altus, a very small town in the Arkansas River Valley whose economy and identity are built around wine production. Altus has experienced a long-term population decline and no longer has its own school district; its students now attend the Ozark School District, with the middle school located about five miles northwest in Ozark. The town’s built fabric is a mix of winery-related commercial establishments along US Route 64 and low-density residential streets, and the overall environment is rural and auto-oriented.
The middle school’s enrollment is typical for a small-town Arkansas middle school. The student body is predominantly white, with a relatively small share of Hispanic students and students who identify as two or more races. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a substantial portion of families in the area have lower household incomes. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year show that in mathematics, the share of students scoring proficient or above was somewhat higher than in reading and English language arts. Math proficiency was in a moderate range. In reading and English language arts, proficiency was noticeably lower, with a modest share of students reaching that level. Science results were in a similar range to math, with about a third of students demonstrating proficiency. When compared to the proficiency index for other school systems in Franklin County, Ozark Middle School’s overall performance across tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile of those four districts. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students who are not yet at grade level, particularly in reading and English language arts.
No data was available on chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, course access, or discipline, so it is not possible to say how the school’s environment or student support systems compare to others in the area. Because the grade band is only two years, the school operates as a transitional stage between elementary and high school, and there are no program offerings listed.
For families considering this area, Altus is a place with deep winemaking roots and seasonal festivals that draw visitors, but its school has been part of the Ozark district for some time after the local Altus-Denning district consolidated. The town’s housing is modestly priced relative to state and national benchmarks, and there is no public transit. The school’s academic results are a clear area of concern, especially in literacy, and a family moving here should plan on engaging directly with the school about academic support and enrichment options.
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