Top Rankings
Southside School District (Independence) ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Arkansas for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 1,323 students in Southside School District (Independence). This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Arkansas.
Public Elementary Schools in Southside School District (Independence) have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the Arkansas public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 33% (versus the 39% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Arkansas public elementary school average of 43% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (AR)
# Schools
4 Schools
710 Schools
# Students
2,204 Students
300,005 Students
# Teachers
173 Teachers
19,966 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
District Rank
Southside School District (Independence), which is ranked within the top 50% of all 258 school districts in Arkansas (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90-94% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#110 out of 259 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
38%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
40%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
39%
36%

Graduation Rate
90-94%
88%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.16
0.61
# American Indian Students
9 Students
1,684 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
5 Students
5,542 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
2%
# Hispanic Students
122 Students
43,810 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
15%
# Black Students
35 Students
58,360 Students
% Black Students
2%
19%
# White Students
2,012 Students
172,046 Students
% White Students
91%
57%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
3,152 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
19 Students
15,411 Students
% of Two or more races Students
1%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
264
7,260
# Students in K Grade:
157
33,240
# Students in 1st Grade:
149
35,859
# Students in 2nd Grade:
149
37,037
# Students in 3rd Grade:
141
35,957
# Students in 4th Grade:
150
35,919
# Students in 5th Grade:
162
35,951
# Students in 6th Grade:
151
36,175
# Students in 7th Grade:
131
21,041
# Students in 8th Grade:
141
15,262
# Students in 9th Grade:
165
1,598
# Students in 10th Grade:
159
1,565
# Students in 11th Grade:
168
1,649
# Students in 12th Grade:
117
1,433
# Ungraded Students:
-
59
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,243 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,132. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,790 is less than the state median of $13,043. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$25 MM
$6,371 MM

Spending
$22 MM
$6,327 MM

Revenue / Student
$11,243
$13,132

Spending / Student
$9,790
$13,043

Best Southside School District (Independence) Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Southside Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2460 Batesville Blvd
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251-2661
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251-2661
Grades: PK-3
| 860 students
Rank: #22.
Southside Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
70 Scott Dr
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251-2332
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251-2332
Grades: 4-6
| 463 students
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