We’re thrilled to announce the release of our latest OEP Awards: Beating the Odds report. This one is a favorite around here because it tells a story we deeply believe in: Academic Growth for ALL kids.
Why We Love This Report
1. It spotlights growth
Sometimes the quality of a school is judged by proficiency rates alone, which can reflect demographic factors more than educational impact. A part of our OEP Awards series, Beating the Odds honors student growth, showing how far students have come, regardless of where they started.
2. It champions high‑poverty schools doing extraordinary work
This edition highlights schools that are serving communities with at least 66% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch and still producing some of the highest levels of academic growth in both Math and ELA. That’s power. That’s resilience. That’s education in action.
3. It’s rich with stories, data, and regional insights
From elementary to high school, the report gives you:
- Top 10 lists in growth (overall, math, ELA) at each level
- Regional breakdowns and district context
- A sense of which schools are truly “beating the odds” across Arkansas
- It’s part celebration, part accountability, all substance.
Standout Highlights
Marvell‑Elaine Elementary, where 98% of student face economic disadvantages, tops the list for Overall growth and ELA growth for elementary schools.
eSTEM Junior High Public Charter leads in Overall growth and Math growth among middle schools and serves 74% of students who face economic disadvantages outside of school.
At the high school level, Umpire K‑12 (Cossatot River), serving a student population where 76% face economic disadvantages, leads the way in Overall growth and ELA growth.
All three of these schools were also highly ranked on last week’s reports, demonstrating that schools serving a high percentage of students facing economic disadvantages outside of school can see fantastic growth in student learning.
Because growth is not about the kids who walk into the classroom, but about the quality of instruction that happens once inside!
These are more than statistics, they’re evidence of what’s possible when educators, communities, and students focus on academic growth.
What We Hope You’ll Do
- Read the report from front to back and check out the data behind the awards — there’s a wealth to explore.
- Share it with district leaders, school boards, and classroom educators.
- Let it spark conversation: What supports, strategies, or resources helped these schools succeed?
- Use it as a benchmark for your own work, to inspire, to challenge, to grow.
Beating the Odds is more than just an awards list, it’s a call to see and support the amazing teaching and learning happening in Arkansas. It embodies what OEP stands for: rigorous research, clear visibility, and a commitment to equity in education.
Check it out, spread the word, and let’s keep pushing forward, together.
Don’t see your school on the list? Reach out to us at oep@uark.edu and we can help you dig into your data and identify steps you can take to see more growth in your students.