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Average

#407 of 1,035 schools in AR

Top 39% in state

Alma High School

High School · ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT

P O BOX 2139, Alma, AR 72921

Enrollment

978

Student-Teacher

9.6:1

Score

6.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Alma

#1 of 4

public schools

Arkansas high schools

#125 of 277

In district

#1 of 4

ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Academic growth

9.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Alma High School

Alma High School serves 978 students in grades 9-12 in the rural community of Alma, Arkansas, located in Crawford County. With 102 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a favorable 9.6:1 student-teacher ratio that allows for more personalized attention in the classroom. The school currently ranks #435 out of 1,044 high schools statewide, placing it in the 58th percentile among Arkansas schools with a MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10.

Academic performance shows room for growth, with 44% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts/Reading and 30% meeting proficiency standards in Mathematics. These areas present opportunities for the school community to focus on strengthening student achievement. Alma High School draws from a ZIP code area with a population of 12,817, where the median household income is $62,568 and median home value reaches $170,000.

The community has a 17.9% poverty rate, with 21% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher. The school serves as an important educational anchor in this rural area near town, providing high school students with their foundational academic experience in a close-knit Arkansas community setting.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.6:1, Alma High School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Located in a rural area, Alma High School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.0Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.24 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics5.4Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency30%
Reading/ELA Proficiency44%
Overall Proficiency37%
Expected (poverty-adj.)48%
vs. Expected-10.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile36th
College Readiness5.3Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation9.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,790

Alma High School — Students at Alma High School score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

45%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AR EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 30.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 40.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from AR state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
35%
ELA
39%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
38%
2022
Math
30%
ELA
44%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.0/10.

How Alma High School Compares

See how Alma High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.7/10
61th percentile in AR
Academic
5.4/10
5.4/10
Growth
9.0/10
Above average
Environment
7.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
45%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
102 teachers

Location

P O BOX 2139, Alma, AR 72921

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Alma High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. MOUNTAINBURG HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 11.1 miles away, in nearby Mountainburg), which scores slightly higher. Another option is VAN BUREN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.6/10, 6.7 miles away, in nearby Van Buren), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, MULBERRY HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.5/10, 9.4 miles away, in nearby Mulberry), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Alma, see our Alma schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.4 mi
School Distance Rating
ALMA MIDDLE SCHOOL Alma 1.0 mi 5.5
ALMA PRIMARY SCHOOL Alma 1.4 mi 4.4
ALMA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Alma 1.7 mi 3.5
JAMES R. TATE ELEM. SCHOOL Van Buren 4.6 mi 5.5
VAN BUREN HIGH SCHOOL Van Buren 6.7 mi 7.6
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren 6.9 mi 6.0
KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren 7.1 mi 7.5
OLIVER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren 7.3 mi 7.1
VAN BUREN FRESHMAN ACADEMY Van Buren 7.5 mi 6.4
BUTTERFIELD TRAIL MIDDLE SCHOO Van Buren 7.6 mi 6.8
PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren 7.8 mi 8.3
RIVER VALLEY VIRTUAL ACADEMY Van Buren 7.8 mi 3.3
NORTHRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL Van Buren 7.9 mi 7.6
LAVACA MIDDLE SCHOOL Lavaca 10.1 mi 6.0
LAVACA HIGH SCHOOL Lavaca 10.2 mi 5.8
LAVACA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lavaca 10.4 mi 4.0
RENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Van Buren 8.7 mi 6.5
MOUNTAINBURG HIGH SCHOOL Mountainburg 11.1 mi 7.7
MOUNTAINBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL BRAIN ACADEMY Mountainburg 11.1 mi 8.6
MULBERRY HIGH SCHOOL Mulberry 9.4 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 72921 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$68,302

Median Home Value

$185,800

Median Rent

$963/mo

Population

12,827

College Educated

22.1%

Homeownership

71.2%

Avg Commute

24.7 min

Poverty Rate

16.3%

Median Age

38.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Alma High School has a median household income of $68,302. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $185,800, with a median rent of $963/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.3%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL Texarkana, AR 6.7
GREENBRIER HIGH SCHOOL Greenbrier, AR 6.7
GREENE CTY TECH HIGH SCHOOL Paragould, AR 6.8
CAMDEN FAIRVIEW HIGH SCHOOL Camden, AR 6.6
BENTON HIGH SCHOOL Benton, AR 6.9
FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL Farmington, AR 6.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Alma High School

What grades does Alma High School serve?

Alma High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Alma High School?

Alma High School has an enrollment of approximately 978 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Alma High School is 9.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Alma High School rank in AR?

Alma High School is ranked #407 out of 1,035 schools in AR.

What is Alma High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Alma High School has a composite rating of 6.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Alma High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Alma High School has 30.0% math proficiency and 40.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Alma High School a charter school?

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

Is Alma High School a Title I school?

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

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

45.0% of students at Alma 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
27 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (1,487/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Alma). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
978
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
102
Free/Reduced Lunch
45.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Crawford County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
3,093
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,279
District Rank
#1 of 4

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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