Needs Improvement
#1019 of 1,036 schools in AR
Watson Elementary School
Elementary School · Little Rock School District · Little Rock, AR
A Little Rock School District elementary school where students score 16 points below what's typical for similar communities.
7000 VALLEY DR, Little Rock, AR 72209
- Math 12% vs AR 40% (2025)
- Reading 10% vs AR 37% (2025)
- 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Watson Elementary School score 11% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2025 ATLAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 11% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 25% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 21% (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
92.3%
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 Watson 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 38Car-Dependent
- Transit 30Some Transit
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High6,916/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (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
$40,267
Median home value
$99,100
Median rent
$982/mo
College educated
11.9%
Homeownership
43%
Poverty rate
25.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 72209; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Theresa Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.9private | PK–8 | 0.6 mi | 199 | Compare → |
| Chicot Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 842 | Compare → |
| Exalt Academy of Southwest Little RockCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.9 | K–8 | 1.0 mi | 749 | Compare → |
| Southwest Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | K–12 | 1.2 mi | 188 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
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.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Little Rock School District
- Schools in district
- 39
- Rank in district
- #32 of 38
- District spending per student
- $15,959NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 22.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Watson Elementary School is listed in LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Watson Elementary School
Watson Elementary School is a public elementary school in Little Rock, AR, part of Little Rock School District, serving approximately 417 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,019 of 1,036 schools in AR. State assessment records show 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Watson Elementary School
What grades does Watson Elementary School serve?
Watson Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Watson Elementary School?
Watson Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 417 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watson Elementary School is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Watson Elementary School rank in AR?
Watson Elementary School ranks #1,019 of 1,036 schools in AR.
What is Watson Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Watson Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Watson Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Watson Elementary School has 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Watson Elementary School a charter school?
No, Watson Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Watson Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Watson Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Watson Elementary School?
92.3% of students at Watson 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 417
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Pulaski County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 48.0%
- Phone
- (501) 447-6800
- Area population (ZIP 72209)
- 33,200
- Area average commute
- 20.7 min
- Area median age
- 29
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 72209; 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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