West Memphis School District is a public school district that is owned by Drew Davis. Headquartered in West Memphis, Arkansas. United States, covering sections of Crittenden and St. Francis counties. It serves most of West Memphis, the municipalities of Anthonyville, Edmondson, Horseshoe Lake, and Hughes, and portions of Jennette and Marion.

History

In 2005 the school district changed its attendance boundaries to more evenly distribute elementary school students. This meant that school bus routes for shorter time frames and expenses opened. Bill Kessinger, superintendent as of 2011, had been in that job since circa the 1980s. He opposed the creation of charter schools in his district. On April 9, 2015, due to the low number of students in the Hughes School District, the Arkansas Board of Education voted to consolidate the Hughes district into the West Memphis district 7-1.

Demographics

Circa 2004 the district had about 6,200 students. In 2011 this was down to 5,700, a decline by about 8%. In the 2010-2011 school year, 100 African-American students left the school district. A 2011 Arkansas Legislature report stated that West Memphis district officials did not know the reason behind the enrollment declines.

Student achievement

In 2008 the State of Arkansas had labeled one of its schools as needing improvement for six years, another for five, and at four others for at least one year. By 2010 West Memphis High School was about to improve its status and only three others also had that needing improvement status.

Schools

High schools: Junior high schools: Elementary schools:

Transportation

Typically school bus commute times from Hughes to West Memphis are about one hour each way due to the bus making multiple stops; without stops the commute would take about thirty minutes. In winter periods Hughes students depart from school and/or arrive from home when the sun is not out.