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Schools in Mena · Mena Public Schools

Mena’s public schools outscore 88% of Arkansas districts

In Mena, 48% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Arkansas average (38%). The grade covers the public school district serving Mena, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arkansas, not nationally.

#13of 123 Arkansas townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arkansas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
45%
▲ 5 pts vs AR 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
48%
▲ 10 pts vs AR 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 5–10 pts vs AR 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.6K
▼ 0% vs AR $13.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
9.7
AR 12.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
4
1,691 students on the public path
In brief

Mena’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 45% and math 48% in spring 2022, against 40% and 38% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,556 per student, against $13,585 across Arkansas (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Holly Harshman Elementary School, then Mena Middle School, then Mena High School. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Mena’s grade

A− Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 88% of Arkansas school districts, #13 of 123 Arkansas towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Arkansas average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Arkansas school districts we grade (261)Better than 88%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arkansas towns with similar household incomes (277)Better than 91%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,006 test results and a graduating class of 100 could put Mena anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Mena’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,006 in math, 1,005 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Mena, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–2Louise Durham Elementary SchoolMena Public SchoolsNo scores
3–5Holly Harshman Elementary SchoolMena Public SchoolsB+
6–8Mena Middle SchoolMena Public SchoolsB+
9–12Mena High SchoolMena Public SchoolsC+

Mena’s public schools are run by Mena Public Schools, which also serves Hatfield. Parts of Mena (19% of its land) are served by Ouachita River instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Mena Public SchoolsGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 1,703 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 9.7 per teacher (AR 12.4)
$13,556AR $13,585 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading45%
State average 39.9% · 1005 students tested
Math48%
State average 38.3% · 1006 students tested

Mena vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arkansas towns that share Mena’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
MenaAMena

Every school in Mena

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arkansas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Menaby address
Louise Durham Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–2
357 students15:1Rate it →
Holly Harshman Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
B+
438 students19:1Rate it →
Mena Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
393 students14:1Rate it →
Mena High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
503 students7:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Ua Rich Mountain Technical Center and Polk County Virtual Academy).

Questions about Mena’s schools

Are Mena’s schools good?

By Arkansas’s own tests, yes: the public schools Mena children attend outscore 88% of Arkansas’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #13 of 123 Arkansas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 91%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Mena in?

Mena Public Schools, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,703 students in 5 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Mena are served by Ouachita River.

Where do Mena kids go to high school?

Mena High School, with 503 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Mena’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Mena Public Schools graduated in four years, against 90% across Arkansas.

How much does Mena spend per student?

$13,556 in Mena Public Schools (FY2024), against $13,585 across Arkansas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Mena families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mena → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arkansas. Stars are from neighbors.