Every year, every school in Arkansas receives a grade. The Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) releases the Every Student Succeeds Act School Index Report (ESSA). This report grades student performance for every school in the school district by a “letter grade”. The criteria of the “report card” are student achievement (specifically in ELA and Math), school quality and success, and graduation rates. This year, Southside High School improved their grade from last year’s C to a B. 

      When asked what he thought improved the report card, AP Matt Coleman said, “I think three of the biggest factors were that graduation rates were high, our reading scores improved a great deal, and overall attendance was much better than the year before.” 

      Southside sophomore English teacher Mrs. Stout said, “They look at [ACT] Aspire scores. Around 35% of our ninth and tenth-grade Aspire scores are part of our ESSA score. So 35% of our report card grade comes from students in our school!” 

      Southside High School was one of three schools in the district to improve from the year before. Southside’s B compares favorably with its cross-town rival, Northside High School, who received a D for the second year in a row.