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Best Middle Schools in Arkansas (2025-26)

Ranked middle schools

170

Listed, not ranked

Every ranked middle school in Arkansas, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

Arkansas rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

Arkansas middle schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A+	J William Fulbright Junior High School	Bentonville	Bentonville School District	71%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	666
#2	A	Greenbrier Middle School	Greenbrier	Greenbrier School District	66%	54%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	599
#3	A	Pottsville Middle Grade	Pottsville	Pottsville School District	62%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	407
#4	A	Washington Junior High School	Bentonville	Bentonville School District	62%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	693
#5	A	Woodland Junior High School	Fayetteville	Fayetteville School District	62%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	752
#6	A	Lincoln Junior High School	Bentonville	Bentonville School District	61%	54%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	632
#7	A	Valley Springs Middle School	Valley Springs	Valley Springs School District	61%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	235
#8	A-	Bethel Middle School	Alexander	Bryant School District	58%	53%	Exceeds Expectations	709
#9	A-	Greenwood Junior High School	Greenwood	Greenwood School District	58%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	632
#10	A-	Harrison Middle School	Harrison	Harrison School District	57%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	830
#11	A-	Heber Springs Middle School	Heber Springs	Heber Springs School District	57%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	380
#12	A-	Valley View Junior High School	Jonesboro	Valley View School District	57%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	712
#13	A-	Gravette Middle School	Gravette	Gravette School District	56%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	486
#14	A-	Greenbrier Junior High School	Greenbrier	Greenbrier School District	56%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	590
#15	A-	L A Chaffin JR High School	Fort Smith	Fort Smith School District	56%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	725
#16	A-	Hellstern Middle School	Springdale	Springdale School District	55%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	781
#17	A-	Bergman Middle School	Harrison	Bergman School District	54%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	341
#18	A-	Bismarck Middle School	Bismarck	Bismarck School District	54%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	321
#19	A-	Grimsley Junior High School	Centerton	Bentonville School District	54%	53%	Meets Expectations	887
#20	A-	Ruth Doyle Intermediate School	Conway	Conway School District	53%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	562
#21	B+	Elmwood Middle School	Rogers	Rogers School District	52%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	1,007
#22	B+	Nemo Vista Middle School Center	Ridge	Nemo Vista School District	52%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	99
#23	B+	Pinkston Middle School	Mountain Home	Mountain Home School District	52%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	624
#24	B+	Ahlf Junior High School	Searcy	Searcy School District	50%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	682
#25	B+	Northridge Middle School	Van Buren	Van Buren School District	50%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	753
#26	B+	Cabot Junior High North	Cabot	Cabot School District	49%	49%	Meets Expectations	888
#27	B+	Pottsville Junior High School	Pottsville	Pottsville School District	49%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	471
#28	B+	Benton Middle School	Benton	Benton School District	48%	49%	Meets Expectations	1,367
#29	B+	Dover Middle School	Dover	Dover School District	48%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	374
#30	B+	Kirksey Middle School	Rogers	Rogers School District	48%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	1,022
#31	B+	Russellville Middle School	Russellville	Russellville School District	48%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	813
#32	B+	Vilonia Middle School	Vilonia	Vilonia School District	48%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	479
#33	B+	Pinnacle View Middle School	Little Rock	Little Rock School District	47%	53%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	878
#34	B	Benton Junior High School	Benton	Benton School District	48%	44%	Meets Expectations	943
#35	B	Central Junior High School	Springdale	Springdale School District	47%	43%	Meets Expectations	890
#36	B	Swifton Middle School	Swifton	Jackson Co. School District	47%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	198
#37	B	Bryant Junior High School	Bryant	Bryant School District	46%	46%	Meets Expectations	1,634
#38	B	Carl Stuart Middle School	Conway	Conway School District	46%	45%	Meets Expectations	741
#39	B	Conway Junior High School	Conway	Conway School District	46%	44%	Meets Expectations	1,597
#40	B	Fountain Lake Middle School Cobra Digital Prep Academy	Hot Springs	Fountain Lake School District	46%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	429
#41	B	Lake Hamilton JR High School	Pearcy	Lake Hamilton School District	46%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	694
#42	B	Lingle Middle School	Rogers	Rogers School District	46%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	766
#43	B	Ozark Middle School	Altus	Ozark School District	46%	42%	Exceeds Expectations	234
#44	B	Bauxite Middle School	Bauxite	Bauxite School District	45%	44%	Meets Expectations	369
#45	B	Beebe Junior High School	Beebe	Beebe School District	45%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	519
#46	B	Dewitt Middle School	Dewitt	Dewitt School District	45%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	267
#47	B	Joe T Robinson Middle School	Little Rock	Pulaski County Special School District	45%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	544
#48	B	Clinton JR High School	Clinton	Clinton School District	44%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	309
#49	B	Jessieville Middle School	Jessieville	Jessieville School District	44%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	205
#50	B	Lisa Academy North Middle School (Charter)	Sherwood	Lisa Academy	44%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	336
#51	B	Pea Ridge Junior High School	Pea Ridge	Pea Ridge School District	44%	42%	Exceeds Expectations	584
#52	B	Siloam Springs Middle School	Siloam Springs	Siloam Springs School District	44%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	693
#53	B	Cabot Junior High South	Cabot	Cabot School District	43%	46%	Meets Expectations	710
#54	B	Elkins Middle School	Elkins	Elkins School District	43%	43%	Meets Expectations	348
#55	B	Mena Middle School	Mena	Mena School District	43%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	375
#56	B	Quitman Middle School	Quitman	Quitman School District	43%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	214
#57	B	Sheridan Middle School	Sheridan	Sheridan School District	43%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	609
#58	B-	Russellville JR High School	Russellville	Russellville School District	44%	39%	Meets Expectations	901
#59	B-	Dequeen Junior High School	Dequeen	Dequeen School District	43%	30%	Exceeds Expectations	397
#60	B-	Alma Middle School	Alma	Alma School District	42%	41%	Meets Expectations	716
#61	B-	Bryant Middle School	Bryant	Bryant School District	42%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	786
#62	B-	Dardanelle Middle School	Dardanelle	Dardanelle School District	42%	33%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	524
#63	B-	Dequeen Middle School	Dequeen	Dequeen School District	42%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	343
#64	B-	Farmington Freshman Academy	Farmington	Farmington School District	42%	41%	Meets Expectations	661
#65	B-	Huntsville Middle School	Huntsville	Huntsville School District	42%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	472
#66	B-	Morrilton Junior High School	Morrilton	South Conway County School District	42%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	370
#67	B-	Atkins Middle School	Atkins	Atkins School District	41%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	291
#68	B-	Cave City Middle School Career And Collegiate Preparatory (Charter)	Cave City	Cave City School District	41%	34%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	288
#69	B-	Lisa Academy (Charter)	Little Rock	Lisa Academy	41%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	503
#70	B-	Rayphyllis Simon Intermediate	Conway	Conway School District	41%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	490
#71	B-	Russellville Intermediate School	Russellville	Russellville School District	41%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	401
#72	B-	Kraus Middle School	Clarksville	Clarksville School District	40%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	398
#73	B-	Paris Middle School	Paris	Paris School District	40%	33%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	317
#74	B-	Prairie Grove Junior High School	Prairie Grove	Prairie Grove School District	40%	49%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	323
#75	B-	Pulaski Heights Middle School	Little Rock	Little Rock School District	40%	41%	Meets Expectations	548
#76	B-	Ramsey Junior High School	Fort Smith	Fort Smith School District	40%	34%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	832
#77	B-	Brookland Junior High School	Brookland	Brookland School District	39%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	718
#78	B-	Danville Middle School	Danville	Danville School District	39%	29%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	211
#79	B-	Gentry Middle School	Gentry	Gentry School District	39%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	375
#80	B-	Lamar Middle School	Lamar	Lamar School District	39%	39%	Meets Expectations	305
#81	B-	Ramay Junior High School	Fayetteville	Fayetteville School District	39%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	645
#82	B-	Southside Junior High School (Charter)	Batesville	Southside School District (independence)	39%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	481
#83	C+	Highland Middle School	Hardy	Highland School District	39%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	492
#84	C+	Mountain View Middle School	Mountain View	Mountain View School District	39%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	369
#85	C+	Westside Middle School	Jonesboro	Westside Cons. Sch Dist(craigh	39%	38%	Meets Expectations	391
#86	C+	White Hall Junior High School	White Hall	White Hall School District	39%	35%	Exceeds Expectations	703
#87	C+	Bob Courtway Middle School	Conway	Conway School District	38%	38%	Meets Expectations	498
#88	C+	Eureka Springs Middle School	Eureka Springs	Eureka Springs School District	38%	37%	Meets Expectations	212
#89	C+	Greene Co Tech Interm School	Paragould	Greene County Tech School District	38%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	548
#90	C+	Helen Tyson Middle School	Springdale	Springdale School District	38%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	786
#91	C+	Paragould Junior High	Paragould	Paragould School District	38%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	481
#92	C+	Wynne Junior High School	Wynne	Wynne School District	38%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	563
#93	C+	East End Middle School	Hensley	Sheridan School District	37%	39%	Meets Expectations	424
#94	C+	Flightline Upper Academy (Charter)	Lrafb	Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools	37%	35%	Exceeds Expectations	155
#95	C+	Flippin Middle School	Flippin	Flippin School District	37%	34%	Exceeds Expectations	243
#96	C+	Lake Hamilton Middle School	Pearcy	Lake Hamilton School District	37%	39%	Meets Expectations	631
#97	C+	Mansfield Middle School	Mansfield	Mansfield School District	37%	35%	Exceeds Expectations	219
#98	C+	Oakdale Middle School	Rogers	Rogers School District	37%	35%	Exceeds Expectations	850
#99	C+	Paulette Smith Middle School	Fouke	Fouke School District	37%	35%	Exceeds Expectations	265
#100	C+	Batesville Junior High School Charter (Charter)	Batesville	Batesville School District	36%	35%	Meets Expectations	772
#101	C+	Cedarville Middle School	Cedarville	Cedarville School District	36%	34%	Meets Expectations	210
#102	C+	Corning Middle School	Corning	Corning School District	35%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	255
#103	C	Bald Knob Middle School	Bald Knob	Bald Knob School District	35%	34%	Meets Expectations	258
#104	C	Estem Middle School (Charter)	Little Rock	Estem Public Charter School	35%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	406
#105	C	Green Co Tech JR High School	Paragould	Greene County Tech School District	35%	46%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	578
#106	C	Harmony Grove Junior High School	Benton	Harmony Grove Sch Dist(saline)	35%	37%	Meets Expectations	303
#107	C	Nashville Junior High School	Nashville	Nashville School District	35%	30%	Exceeds Expectations	465
#108	C	Southwest Junior High School	Springdale	Springdale School District	35%	33%	Meets Expectations	744
#109	C	Mayflower Middle School	Mayflower	Mayflower School District	34%	35%	Meets Expectations	315
#110	C	Barton JR High School	El Dorado	El Dorado School District	33%	27%	Exceeds Expectations	616
#111	C	Butterfield Junior High School	Van Buren	Van Buren School District	33%	32%	Meets Expectations	613
#112	C	Decatur Middle School	Decatur	Decatur School District	32%	30%	Exceeds Expectations	177
#113	C	Lavaca Middle School	Lavaca	Lavaca School District	32%	35%	Meets Expectations	231
#114	C	Booneville JR High School	Booneville	Booneville School District	31%	30%	Exceeds Expectations	335
#115	C	Goza Middle School	Arkadelphia	Arkadelphia School District	31%	28%	Exceeds Expectations	418
#116	C	Waldron Middle School	Waldron	Waldron School District	31%	33%	Meets Expectations	464
#117	C-	Clarksville Junior High School	Clarksville	Clarksville School District	31%	28%	Meets Expectations	436
#118	C-	Berryville Middle School	Berryville	Berryville School District	30%	30%	Meets Expectations	428
#119	C-	Lonoke Middle School	Lonoke	Lonoke School District	30%	31%	Meets Expectations	365
#120	C-	Norphlet Middle School	Norphlet	Smackover-Norphlet School District	30%	33%	Meets Expectations	317
#121	C-	Greenland Middle School	Greenland	Greenland School District	29%	32%	Meets Expectations	219
#122	C-	Magnolia JR High School	Magnolia	Magnolia School District	29%	28%	Meets Expectations	595
#123	C-	Monticello Middle School	Monticello	Monticello School District	29%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	367
#124	C-	Sonora Middle School	Springdale	Springdale School District	29%	31%	Meets Expectations	632
#125	C-	Warren Middle School	Warren	Warren School District	29%	25%	Exceeds Expectations	359
#126	C-	Annie Camp JR High School	Jonesboro	Jonesboro School District	28%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	784
#127	C-	Dumas Junior High School	Dumas	Dumas School District	28%	25%	Exceeds Expectations	236
#128	C-	Lakewood Middle School	North Little Rock	North Little Rock School District	28%	27%	Meets Expectations	1,115
#129	C-	Maumelle Middle School	Maumelle	Pulaski County Special School District	28%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	589
#130	C-	Stuttgart Junior High School	Stuttgart	Stuttgart School District	28%	30%	Meets Expectations	265
#131	C-	Sylvan Hills Middle School	Sherwood	Pulaski County Special School District	28%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,122
#132	C-	Pocahontas Junior High School	Pocahontas	Pocahontas School District	27%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	503
#133	D+	Izard County Cons Middle Sch	Brockwell	Izard County Consolidated School District	27%	28%	Meets Expectations	185
#134	D+	Mountainburg Middle School Brain Academy (Charter)	Mountainburg	Mountainburg School District	27%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	184
#135	D+	Nettleton Junior High School	Jonesboro	Nettleton School District	27%	28%	Meets Expectations	546
#136	D+	Trumann Intermediate School7 8	Trumann	Trumann School District	27%	27%	Meets Expectations	300
#137	D+	Dora Kimmons JR High School	Fort Smith	Fort Smith School District	26%	26%	Meets Expectations	841
#138	D+	Douglas Macarthur Jhs	Jonesboro	Jonesboro School District	26%	28%	Meets Expectations	732
#139	D+	Hamburg Middle School	Hamburg	Hamburg School District	26%	29%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	388
#140	D+	Hot Springs Junior Academy (Magnet, Charter)	Hot Springs	Hot Springs School District	26%	30%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	815
#141	D+	Pleasant View Junior High	Ozark	Mulberry/pleasant View Bi-County Schools	25%	28%	Meets Expectations	122
#142	D+	Star City Middle School	Star City	Star City School District	25%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	341
#143	D+	Ashdown Junior High School	Ashdown	Ashdown School District	24%	25%	Meets Expectations	283
#144	D+	J O Kelly Middle School	Springdale	Springdale School District	24%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	564
#145	D+	Marion Junior High School	Marion	Marion School District	24%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	970
#146	D+	North Little Rock Middle School 6th Grade Campus	North Little Rock	North Little Rock School District	24%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	570
#147	D+	West Fork Middle School	West Fork	West Fork School District	24%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	241
#148	D+	William O Darby JR High Sch	Fort Smith	Fort Smith School District	24%	25%	Meets Expectations	700
#149	D	Malvern Junior High School	Malvern	Malvern School District	23%	24%	Meets Expectations	299
#150	D	Mann Magnet Middle School (Magnet)	Little Rock	Little Rock School District	23%	23%	Meets Expectations	618
#151	D	Riverview Junior High School	Searcy	Riverview School District	23%	24%	Meets Expectations	213
#152	D	Drew Central Middle School	Monticello	Drew Central School District	21%	24%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	373
#153	D	Lakeside Middle School	Lake Village	Lakeside School Dist(chicot)	21%	22%	Meets Expectations	214
#154	D	West Junior High School	West Memphis	West Memphis School District	21%	21%	Meets Expectations	507
#155	D-	George Junior High School	Springdale	Springdale School District	20%	30%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	708
#156	D-	Fuller Middle School	Little Rock	Pulaski County Special School District	19%	26%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	440
#157	D-	Jacksonville Middle School	Jacskonville	Jacksonville North Pulaski School District	19%	32%	Underperforms Expectations	966
#158	D-	Lakeside Junior High School	Springdale	Springdale School District	19%	32%	Underperforms Expectations	633
#159	D-	Crossett Middle School	Crossett	Crossett School District	17%	25%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	466
#160	D-	Prescott Junior High School	Prescott	Prescott School District	17%	22%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	249
#161	D-	Camden Fairview Middle School	Camden	Camden Fairview School District	13%	19%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	519
#162	F	Kipp Delta College Preparatory School (Charter)	Helena	Kipp Delta Public Schools	12%	9%	Exceeds Expectations	182
#163	F	Osceola Middle School	Osceola	Osceola School District	12%	15%	Meets Expectations	245
#164	F	Wonder Junior High School	West Memphis	West Memphis School District	12%	13%	Meets Expectations	320
#165	F	Yerger Junior High School	Hope	Hope School District	12%	18%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	211
#166	F	Forrest City JR High	Forrest City	Forrest City School District	11%	14%	Meets Expectations	275
#167	F	Watson Chapel JR High School	Pine Bluff	Watson Chapel School District	11%	15%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	463
#168	F	Blytheville Middle School	Blytheville	Blytheville School District	10%	20%	Underperforms Expectations	324
#169	F	Dunbar Magnet Middle School (Magnet)	Little Rock	Little Rock School District	10%	17%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	320
#170	F	Mabelvale Middle School	Mabelvale	Little Rock School District	9%	19%	Underperforms Expectations	569

How Arkansas's middle schools compare

A: 20B: 62C: 50D: 29F: 9

48% of the 170 ranked middle schools in Arkansas earn an A or B (20 A grades, 62 B, 50 C, 29 D, 9 F), against 47% of middle schools nationwide. 139 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (82% here, 71% nationally), and 84 exceed it. On average 37% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 35% (national averages: 39% actual, 38% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Bismarck Middle School (54% against 35%, A-), Pottsville Middle Grade (62% against 45%, A), Swifton Middle School (47% against 30%, B), Woodland Junior High School (62% against 46%, A), Washington Junior High School (62% against 48%, A).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 43): Bentonville School District (4), Conway School District (3), Rogers School District (3), Greenbrier School District (2).

Cities with the most ranked middle schools: Springdale (8, 2 at A or B), Little Rock (8, 4 at A or B), Jonesboro (5, 1 at A or B), Conway (5, 4 at A or B), Fort Smith (4, 2 at A or B).

The largest ranked middle schools: Bryant Junior High School (1,634 students, B, #37), Conway Junior High School (1,597 students, B, #39), Benton Middle School (1,367 students, B+, #28).

Middle schools in Arkansas that are not ranked

16 graded middle schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Special-purpose schools (1)

Alternative, special-education and vocational schools serve a different mission and a different student body, so they are graded but not ranked against regular schools.

B- Hope Academy, Hope

Fully online schools (1)

Statewide virtual schools draw students from everywhere, so a place ranking is not a fair comparison.

C Arkansas Virtual Academy JR, Little Rock

Closed schools (7)

NCES lists these schools as closed or inactive since their last graded year.

D Cabe Middle School, Gurdon
F Cloverdale Middle School, Little Rock
F East Junior High School, West Memphis
C- Estem East Village Junior High Public Charter School, Little Rock
B- Glen Rose Middle School, Malvern
F Jack Robey JR High School, Pine Bluff
D- Prodigy Preparatory Academy Of Service, Little Rock

Not yet graded (7)

Too little test data to grade.

Arkansas Middle School, Texarkana
Conner Middle School, Mcgehee
Lakeside Junior High School, Hot Springs
Pine Bluff Lighthouse Middle School Academy, Pine Bluff
Rivercrest Junior High, Wilson
Robert F Morehead Middle School, Pine Bluff
Sylvan Hills Junior High School, Sherwood

About this ranking

Scope: every public middle school in Arkansas.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the middle schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about middle schools in Arkansas

What is the best middle school in Arkansas?

J William Fulbright Junior High School in Bentonville ranks first among the 170 ranked middle schools in Arkansas with a SchoolGrade of A+, 71% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 60%.

How are middle schools in Arkansas ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many middle schools does Arkansas have?

SchoolGrade grades 186 public middle schools in Arkansas; 170 are ranked here and 16 are listed as not ranked.