6.3 avg / 10

Best Schools in Searcy, Arkansas

12 schools · 4 Elementary · 3 Middle · 2 High · 3 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 8

Private: 4

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 6.3/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Searcy?

Use this page to compare every school in Searcy by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Searcy School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Middle · Searcy School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Searcy for 2026 are Westside Elementary School (7.9/10), Southwest Middle School (7.4/10), and Ahlf Junior High School (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Southwest Middle School

Rates 7.4/10 despite 54% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 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 Searcy schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Searcy

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (12 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Westside Elementary School	7.9 / 10	Elementary	+0.9	82th
2	Southwest Middle School	7.4 / 10	Middle	+1.1	72th
3	Ahlf Junior High School	7.1 / 10	Middle	+0.5	65th
4	Mcrae Elementary School	7.0 / 10	Elementary	+1.0	63th
5	Harding Academy	6.7 / 10	Other	—	64th
6	Sunshine School	6.7 / 10	Other	—	61th
7	Crosspointe Preparatory	6.6 / 10	Other	—	54th
8	Liberty Christian School	6.5 / 10	Elementary	—	51th
9	Riverview Junior High School	5.7 / 10	Middle	+0.7	35th
10	Searcy High School	4.9 / 10	High	-2.0	19th

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: 6.3/10
Median household income: $55,522
Median home value: $176,900
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27%
Avg commute: 19 min
Owner-occupied homes: 64%

How Searcy compares

Arkansas rank

#63 of 123

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.0

below Arkansas avg (6.3)

Median household income

$56k

100% of Arkansas median

Schools in this city

12

About Schools in Searcy, Arkansas

Searcy, Arkansas is home to 12 schools, including 8 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.3 out of 10, schools in Searcy show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Searcy is Westside Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Searcy is served by 2 school districts: RIVERVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT, SEARCY SCHOOL DISTRICT. These districts collectively serve 5,110 students.

Searcy's community shows 27% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $55,522. The poverty rate in the area is 18.0%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (12) Elementary (4) Middle (3) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (12) Public (8) Private (4)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (12) Academics (8) Growth (8) Diversity (8) Resources (8)

Filter by ZIP: 72143 (12)

Elementary Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Westside Elementary School 428 students · Pre-K–3rd	428	Pre-K–3rd	7.9
2	Mcrae Elementary School 450 students · Pre-K–3rd	450	Pre-K–3rd	7.0
3	Sidney Deener Elem. School 429 students · Pre-K–3rd	429	Pre-K–3rd	4.0
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Liberty Christian School Private 47 students · Pre-K–6th	47	Pre-K–6th	6.5

Middle Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Southwest Middle School 879 students · 4th–6th	879	4th–6th	7.4
2	Ahlf Junior High School 618 students · 7th–8th	618	7th–8th	7.1
3	Riverview Junior High School 195 students · 7th–8th	195	7th–8th	5.7

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Searcy High School 1,208 students · 9th–12th	1,208	9th–12th	4.9
2	Riverview High School 316 students · 9th–12th	316	9th–12th	4.7

Other Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Harding Academy Private 554 students · Pre-K–12th	554	Pre-K–12th	6.7
2	Sunshine School Private 31 students · Pre-K–12th	31	Pre-K–12th	6.7
3	Crosspointe Preparatory Private 106 students · Pre-K–12th	106	Pre-K–12th	6.6

Schools in Searcy

Searcy, Arkansas · 12 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$55,522

Median Home Value

$176,900

Median Rent

$851/mo

Population

35,523

College Educated

27%

Homeownership

64%

Avg Commute

19 min

Poverty Rate

18.0%

Community Profile

Searcy has a median household income of $55,522. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $176,900, with a median rent of $851/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.0%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Arkansas
Elementary: 4
Middle: 3
High: 2
Other: 3

Resources

🔍 Google "Searcy schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Searcy 📊 Niche Searcy Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

RIVERVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT

4 schools · 1,098 students

SEARCY SCHOOL DISTRICT

6 schools · 4,012 students

Nearby Cities

Bald Knob (3 schools)

Pleasant Plains (1 school)

Heber Springs (3 schools)

25 mi

Cabot (15 schools)

25 mi

Mt. Vernon (1 school)

23 mi

Other Major Cities in Arkansas

Top metros statewide by school count.

Little Rock 89 schools Fort Smith 37 schools Rogers 32 schools Springdale 32 schools Bentonville 29 schools

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 rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Searcy, Arkansas

How many schools are in Searcy, Arkansas?

Searcy has 12 schools, including 8 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Searcy, Arkansas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Searcy is 6.3 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 Searcy, Arkansas?

The top-ranked school in Searcy on MySchoolScout is Westside Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10.

What is the best elementary school in Searcy, Arkansas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Searcy on MySchoolScout is Westside Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10.

What is the best middle school in Searcy, Arkansas?

The top-ranked middle school in Searcy on MySchoolScout is Southwest Middle School with a composite score of 7.4/10.

What is the best high school in Searcy, Arkansas?

The top-ranked high school in Searcy on MySchoolScout is Searcy High School with a composite score of 4.9/10.

How many school districts serve Searcy, Arkansas?

Searcy is served by 2 school districts: Riverview School District, Searcy School District.

What is the education level in Searcy, Arkansas?

According to Census data, 27% of adults in Searcy have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Searcy, Arkansas?

The median household income in Searcy is approximately $55,522 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Searcy, Arkansas?

Yes, Searcy has 4 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Harding Academy with a score of 6.7/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Searcy, Arkansas?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Searcy is 11.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Searcy, 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.