Best Schools in Hot Springs, Arkansas
21 schools · 11 Elementary · 4 Middle · 4 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Hot Springs?
Use this page to compare every school in Hot Springs by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Fountain Lake Middle School Cobra Digital Prep Academy
Middle · Fountain Lake School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Lakeside Junior High School
Middle · Lakeside School Dist(garland). Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
St Johns Catholic School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Hot Springs for 2026 are Fountain Lake Middle School Cobra Digital Prep Academy (9.0/10), Lakeside Junior High School (8.8/10), and St Johns Catholic School (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
21
16 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$176,300
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
21
16 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$176,300
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Hot Springs schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Hot Springs
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (16 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fountain Lake Middle School Cobra Digital Prep Academy | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Lakeside Junior High School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | St Johns Catholic School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Lakeside Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Lakeside Intermediate School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Fountain Lake Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Hot Springs World Class High School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Lakeside High School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Park Magnet an Ib Pyp World Class School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Fountain Lake Charter High School | 6.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $53,889
- Median home value
- $176,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 27%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
41% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Hot Springs compares
Arkansas rank
#58 of 123
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above Arkansas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$54k
97% of Arkansas median
Schools in this city
17
About Schools in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs ranks 16 public schools, with an average score of 6.1 out of 10 across the city — a solid foundation with meaningful standouts at the top. Five of those schools, or 31 percent, score 7.0 or higher, giving families real options across multiple grade levels. The performance range spans from competitive to mid-tier, so where a child lands in the system matters.
The top performer is Cutter-Morning Star Elementary School, scoring 7.7 out of 10 — the highest mark in Hot Springs. At the middle school level, Lakeside Junior High School scores 7.3, and Fountain Lake Middle School Cobra Digital Prep Academy reaches 7.0, both clearing the high-performer threshold before high school. Two high schools tie at 7.2: Fountain Lake Charter High School and Hot Springs World Class High School. The presence of a charter option alongside a school with an explicit academic focus signals that the city has invested in differentiated high school pathways.
The five schools scoring 7.0 or above span elementary through high school, which benefits families planning a long-term enrollment path. A child entering at Cutter-Morning Star can advance through above-average middle and high schools without leaving the city. That continuity — strong scores at each level — is a concrete advantage over cities where top performance clusters in only one grade band.
For parents comparing Hot Springs to peer markets, the 6.1 average places it in the mid-range. A 31 percent rate of high-performing schools means strong options exist but are not the default — school selection within Hot Springs carries more weight than it would in a uniformly high-performing city. Families should confirm attendance boundaries early, since zoning determines whether a child accesses the top tier or the middle range. The charter and specialty high school tracks also require proactive enrollment rather than automatic assignment, so planning ahead is essential for families targeting either of the 7.2-rated high schools.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 705 students · 2nd–4th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 448 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 443 students · Kindergarten–1st | 6.8 | ||
| 4 | 437 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.6 | ||
| 5 | 345 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.3 | ||
| 6 | 476 students · Pre-K–6th | 4.2 | ||
| 7 | 648 students · Pre-K–6th | 3.9 | ||
| 8 | 520 students · Pre-K–6th | 3.8 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Johns Catholic School
Private
75 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | Hot Springs Adventist School
Private
16 students · Kindergarten–8th | — | ||
Show all 11 elementary schools in Hot Springs
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 405 students · 5th–8th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 556 students · 7th–8th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 546 students · 5th–6th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 795 students · 7th–9th | 6.1 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 767 students · 10th–12th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 1,114 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 359 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
| 4 | 316 students · 7th–12th | 4.5 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Beginning Christian Academy
Private
13 students · Kindergarten–9th | — |
| 2 | Lighthouse Christian School
Private
21 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
Schools in Hot Springs
Hot Springs, Arkansas · 21 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$53,889
Median Home Value
$176,300
Median Rent
$884/mo
Population
76,572
College Educated
27%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
18.5%
Community Profile
Hot Springs has a median household income of $53,889. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $176,300, with a median rent of $884/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.5%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arkansas
- Elementary
- 11
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 4
- Other
- 2
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Arkansas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Hot Springs, Arkansas
How many schools are in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
Hot Springs has 21 schools, including 16 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Hot Springs is 6.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
The top-ranked school in Hot Springs on MySchoolScout is Fountain Lake Middle School Cobra Digital Prep Academy with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Hot Springs on MySchoolScout is St Johns Catholic School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
The top-ranked middle school in Hot Springs on MySchoolScout is Fountain Lake Middle School Cobra Digital Prep Academy with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best high school in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
The top-ranked high school in Hot Springs on MySchoolScout is Hot Springs World Class High School with a composite score of 7.3/10.
How many school districts serve Hot Springs, Arkansas?
Hot Springs is served by 4 school districts: Cutter-morning Star School District, Fountain Lake School District, Hot Springs School District, Lakeside School Dist(garland).
What is the education level in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
According to Census data, 27% of adults in Hot Springs have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
The median household income in Hot Springs is approximately $53,889 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
Yes, Hot Springs has 5 private schools alongside 16 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Johns Catholic School with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Hot Springs is 12.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Hot Springs, Arkansas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arkansas Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.