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Average

#512 of 1,036 schools in AR

Top 49% in state

Acorn High School

High School · Ouachita River School District · Mena, AR

An Ouachita River School District high school where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.

143 POLK 96, Mena, AR 71953

  • Math 22% vs AR 30% (2025)
  • Reading 35% vs AR 33% (2025)
  • 90%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.4Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.05 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.3Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency21.6% (2025 ATLAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency35.1% (2025 ATLAS)
Math vs. State Avg-18.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.2 pts
Overall Proficiency28% (2025 ATLAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2025 ATLAS)
vs. Expected-8.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile34th
College Readiness6.9Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate90%+
AP Participation7.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio5:1
District spending per student$11,567
Chronic Absenteeism29.6%

Students at Acorn High School score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ATLAS proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.

Math Proficiency22%(2025 ATLAS)
School
State
30%(2025 ATLAS)
ELA Proficiency35%(2025 ATLAS)
School
State
33%(2025 ATLAS)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 6 points since 2020, to 28% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
77%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2012
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
41%
ELA
55%
2016
Math
43%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
22%
ELA
47%
2025
Math
22%
ELA
35%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 39 test records from AR state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

61.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where Acorn High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 0Car-Dependent
  • Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,965/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Mena), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$52,355

Median home value

$144,200

Median rent

$743/mo

College educated

19.5%

Homeownership

84.8%

Poverty rate

15.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 71953; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
7.5% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics10sports offered
5 boys'·5 girls'·10 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Mena High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.79–124.0 mi493Compare →
Polk County Virtual AcademyCharter · enrollment unverifiedNot ratedK–124.0 mi15Compare →
Oden SchoolsEnrollment path unverified6.8K–12Not available148Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Ouachita River School District

Schools in district
3
Rank in district
#3 of 3
District spending per student
$11,567NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
22.1%Census SAIPE · 2024

Acorn High School is listed in OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Acorn High School

Acorn High School is a public high school in Mena, AR, part of Ouachita River School District, serving approximately 267 students in grades 7th-12th with a 5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #512 of 1,036 schools in AR. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Acorn High School

What grades does Acorn High School serve?

Acorn High School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend Acorn High School?

Acorn High School has an enrollment of approximately 267 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Acorn High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Acorn High School is 5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Acorn High School rank in AR?

Acorn High School ranks #512 of 1,036 schools in AR.

What is Acorn High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Acorn High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Acorn High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Acorn High School has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Acorn High School a charter school?

No, Acorn High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Acorn High School a Title I school?

No, Acorn High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Acorn High School?

61.4% of students at Acorn High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
267
Student-Teacher Ratio
5:1
Teachers (FTE)
53
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
29.6%
4-Year Graduation
90%+
Area population (ZIP 71953)
13,412
Area median age
47.8
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ATLAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ATLAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ATLAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ATLAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 71953; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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