Very Good
#379 of 1,036 schools in AR
Top 37% in state
Cato Elementary School
Elementary School · Pulaski County Special School District · North Little Rock, AR
A Pulaski County Special School District elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
9906 CATO RD, North Little Rock, AR 72120
- Math 26% vs AR 40% (2025)
- Reading 36% vs AR 37% (2025)
- 17:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cato Elementary School score 31% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).
2025 ATLAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2020, to 31% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 55% (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 37 test records from AR state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.8%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Cato Elementary 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 5Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,510/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (North Little Rock), 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
$75,853
Median home value
$189,400
Median rent
$1,026/mo
College educated
35.4%
Homeownership
71.3%
Poverty rate
9.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 72120; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan Hills Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | PK–5 | 2.6 mi | 483 | Compare → |
| Abundant Life Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | PK–12 | 3.2 mi | 249 | Compare → |
| Oakbrooke Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–5 | 3.4 mi | 406 | Compare → |
| Bobby G Lester Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.6 | K–5 | 3.6 mi | 500 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Pulaski County Special School District
- Schools in district
- 26
- Rank in district
- #5 of 26
- District spending per student
- $13,934NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cato Elementary School is listed in PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cato Elementary School
Cato Elementary School is a public elementary school in North Little Rock, AR, part of Pulaski County Special School District, serving approximately 323 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #379 of 1,036 schools in AR. State assessment records show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cato Elementary School
What grades does Cato Elementary School serve?
Cato Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Cato Elementary School?
Cato Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 323 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cato Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cato Elementary School is 17:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cato Elementary School rank in AR?
Cato Elementary School ranks #379 of 1,036 schools in AR.
What is Cato Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cato Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Cato Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cato Elementary School has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cato Elementary School a charter school?
No, Cato Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cato Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Cato Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cato Elementary School?
98.8% of students at Cato Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 323
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Pulaski County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.5%
- Phone
- (501) 833-1160
- Area population (ZIP 72120)
- 33,393
- Area average commute
- 25.3 min
- Area median age
- 42
Official sources & links
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 72120; 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
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