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Average

#36 of 89 private schools in AR

Top 39% of private schools

Sunshine School

School

901 AIRPORT LOOP, Searcy, AR 72143

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on AR statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

31

Student-Teacher

5.2:1

Score

6.7

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Searcy

#2 of 4

public schools

Arkansas schools

#20 of 49

About Sunshine School

Sunshine School serves 31 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Searcy, Arkansas, offering an intimate educational environment with a remarkable 5.2:1 student-teacher ratio. With just 6 full-time equivalent teachers, this small regular public school provides highly personalized attention that many families value. The school has earned an impressive MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #23 out of 89 schools statewide, placing it in the 75th percentile among Arkansas schools.

This strong performance reflects the benefits of its small-scale learning environment where teachers can focus closely on individual student needs. Sunshine School draws from a community where the median household income is $49,402 and median home value reaches $173,100. About 28% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate stands at 18.9% in this ZIP code of nearly 35,000 residents.

The school's unique span from pre-K through high school means younger and older students learn together in a family-like atmosphere, potentially creating mentorship opportunities across grade levels. Located in a rural area near the town of Searcy, Sunshine School serves families who appreciate the close-knit educational community that only a small school can provide.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 31 students, Sunshine School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.2:1, Sunshine 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.

As a private school, Sunshine School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$73,748
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$84,225
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.14x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
94%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$3.2M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 31 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Sunshine School compares to 8 public schools serving similar grades in Searcy, AR

Student-Teacher Ratio
5.2:1
This School
vs
13.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
31
This School
vs
565
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.7
This School
vs
6.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 74.2% vs 0%
Black 9.7% vs 0%
Hispanic 6.5% vs 0%
Asian 6.5% vs 0%
Sunshine School Searcy Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Sunshine School (this school) 6.7
SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL 6.7
SIDNEY DEENER ELEM. SCHOOL 7.1
AHLF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 6.1
MCRAE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 4.8
SEARCY HIGH SCHOOL 7.7
WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7.7
RIVERVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 5.0
RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL 4.5

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in AR.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.4 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,210.4
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 43%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
D 1.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 31
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in AR

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 74.2%
Black 9.7%
Hispanic 6.5%
Asian 6.5%
Two or More 3.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

901 AIRPORT LOOP, Searcy, AR 72143

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sunshine School may also want to explore other schools in the area. LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 7.2/10, 12.3 miles away, in nearby Beebe), which scores slightly higher. Another option is LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 6.9/10, 12.3 miles away, in nearby Beebe), with a very similar rating. Additionally, HARDING ACADEMY (rated 6.7/10, 2.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Searcy, see our Searcy schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 12.3 mi
School Distance Rating
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Searcy 2.0 mi 6.5
HARDING ACADEMY Searcy 2.3 mi 6.7
SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL Searcy 2.5 mi 6.7
SIDNEY DEENER ELEM. SCHOOL Searcy 2.6 mi 7.1
AHLF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Searcy 2.8 mi 6.1
CROSSPOINTE PREPARATORY Searcy 2.7 mi 6.6
MCRAE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Searcy 3.0 mi 4.8
SEARCY HIGH SCHOOL Searcy 3.2 mi 7.7
WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Searcy 3.3 mi 7.7
RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL Searcy 3.7 mi 4.5
RIVERVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Searcy 3.7 mi 5.0
KENSETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kensett 3.5 mi 5.2
JUDSONIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Judsonia 6.8 mi 8.0
WHITE CO. CENTRAL ELEM. SCHOOL Judsonia 10.4 mi 6.2
WHITE CO. CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Judsonia 10.4 mi 5.0
H.L. LUBKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bald Knob 11.3 mi 7.5
BALD KNOB MIDDLE SCHOOL Bald Knob 11.4 mi 7.1
BALD KNOB HIGH SCHOOL Bald Knob 11.4 mi 6.9
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Beebe 12.3 mi 7.2
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Beebe 12.3 mi 6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 72143 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$55,522

Median Home Value

$176,900

Median Rent

$851/mo

Population

35,523

College Educated

27%

Homeownership

64%

Avg Commute

19.4 min

Poverty Rate

18%

Median Age

34.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Sunshine School 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.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
ADVENTURE ONLINE ACADEMY Waldron, AR 6.7
AMBASSADOR BAPTIST ACADEMY Malvern, AR 6.8
SOUTH ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC Lewisville, AR 6.6
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Beebe, AR 6.9
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Beebe, AR 7.2
GLENWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Glenwood, AR

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sunshine School

What grades does Sunshine School serve?

Sunshine School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Sunshine School?

Sunshine School has an enrollment of approximately 31 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunshine School?

The student-teacher ratio at Sunshine School is 5.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Sunshine School rank in AR?

Sunshine School is ranked #36 out of 89 private schools in AR.

What is Sunshine School's MySchoolScout rating?

Sunshine 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.

Is Sunshine School a private school?

Yes, Sunshine School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Sunshine School a religious school?

No, Sunshine School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (2,675/100K)

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
31
Gender Split
87% M / 13% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.8 hours
Days Per Year
178 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
WHITE
Data Year
2022–2023

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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