Very Good
#353 of 1,036 schools in AR
Top 34% in state
J.f. Wahl Elementary School
Elementary School · Helena / West Helena School District · Helena, AR
A Helena / West Helena School District elementary school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.
125 HICKLORY HILL, Helena, AR 72342
- Math 11% vs AR 40% (2025)
- Reading 14% vs AR 37% (2025)
- 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at J.f. Wahl Elementary School score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
2025 ATLAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 5 points since 2020, to 13% in 2025, across a 9-year record (2017–2025).
Show all 7 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 15% (multi-year average, 2017-2025) · reading/ELA 18% (multi-year average, 2017-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 24 test records from AR state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
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 J.f. Wahl 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 20Car-Dependent
- Bike 10Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average258/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$39,191
Median home value
$99,000
Median rent
$655/mo
College educated
16.7%
Homeownership
37.2%
Poverty rate
24.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 72342; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kipp Delta Elem Literacy AcadCharter · enrollment unverified | 3.8 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 470 | Compare → |
| Desoto SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.3private | PK–12 | 2.2 mi | 189 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
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.
Helena / West Helena School District
- Schools in district
- 2
- Rank in district
- #1 of 2
- District spending per student
- $14,610NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 66.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
J.f. Wahl Elementary School is listed in HELENA / WEST HELENA SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About J.f. Wahl Elementary School
J.f. Wahl Elementary School is a public elementary school in Helena, AR, part of Helena / West Helena School District, serving approximately 541 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #353 of 1,036 schools in AR.
State assessment records show 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025) and 18% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about J.f. Wahl Elementary School
What grades does J.f. Wahl Elementary School serve?
J.f. Wahl Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend J.f. Wahl Elementary School?
J.f. Wahl Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 541 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J.f. Wahl Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at J.f. Wahl Elementary School is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does J.f. Wahl Elementary School rank in AR?
J.f. Wahl Elementary School ranks #353 of 1,036 schools in AR.
What is J.f. Wahl Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
J.f. Wahl Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 J.f. Wahl Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, J.f. Wahl Elementary School has 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025) and 18% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025).
Is J.f. Wahl Elementary School a charter school?
No, J.f. Wahl Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is J.f. Wahl Elementary School a Title I school?
No, J.f. Wahl Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for J.f. Wahl Elementary School?
100.0% of students at J.f. Wahl 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 – 6th
- Enrollment
- 541
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Phillips County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.8%
- Phone
- (870) 338-4425
- Area population (ZIP 72342)
- 3,971
- Area median age
- 47
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 72342; 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, 2017-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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