schoolsbycounty

Arkansas Schools & Education

School quality and education data for all 75 counties.

Avg Graduation Rate

90.3%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$6,160

Avg School Score

38/100

Total Schools

1,095

283 districts

State Overview

About Schools in Arkansas

Arkansas Graduation Rates Outpace National Average

Arkansas boasts a 90.3% average graduation rate, notably higher than the national benchmark of 87.0%. However, the state achieves this with a lean per-pupil expenditure of $6,160, which is less than half of the $13,000 national average.

Performance Varies Across 75 Arkansas Counties

While all 75 counties report data, significant gaps exist between the high 96.3% graduation rate in Newton County and the 79.1% rate in Pulaski County. School scores across the state fluctuate between a peak of 61.7 and a low of 45.4, reflecting a diverse educational landscape.

Strong Graduation Outcomes on Lean Budgets

Arkansas shows a high return on investment by maintaining a 90.3% graduation rate despite an average school score of 51.9. While Lee County operates on a state-low $4,917 per student, Dallas County invests $9,545 to secure the state's top overall school performance score.

Dallas, Newton, and Howard Lead the State

Dallas County earns the top spot with a 61.7 score and a 95.0% graduation rate. Newton and Howard counties follow closely, both exceeding a 94% graduation rate while maintaining average school scores above 55.

A High-Efficiency State for Public Education

Arkansas is a strong choice for families seeking high graduation rates, especially in top-tier areas like Dallas and Newton counties. The state successfully clears national graduation hurdles despite having some of the lowest per-pupil spending levels in the country.

All Arkansas Counties

CountySchool Score
Dallas County85/100
Howard County61/100
Newton County61/100
Searcy County60/100
Pike County58/100
Stone County57/100
Calhoun County57/100
Van Buren County55/100
Chicot County55/100
Prairie County53/100
Franklin County53/100
Cleburne County53/100
Sharp County53/100
Izard County52/100
Desha County52/100
Woodruff County51/100
Conway County51/100
Columbia County51/100
Cleveland County50/100
Fulton County49/100
Johnson County49/100
Monroe County49/100
Perry County48/100
Pope County48/100
Boone County47/100
Clay County45/100
Cross County44/100
Ouachita County43/100
Hot Spring County42/100
Lawrence County41/100
Craighead County41/100
Saline County41/100
Nevada County40/100
Sebastian County40/100
Bradley County39/100
Yell County39/100
Randolph County39/100
Ashley County38/100
Little River County38/100
Crawford County37/100
Lincoln County36/100
Faulkner County35/100
Logan County35/100
Polk County35/100
Lonoke County34/100
Mississippi County34/100
Union County33/100
Montgomery County33/100
Baxter County33/100
Independence County33/100
Greene County33/100
Lafayette County30/100
Benton County30/100
Garland County30/100
Washington County30/100
Grant County29/100
White County29/100
Hempstead County28/100
Crittenden County28/100
Sevier County26/100
Poinsett County25/100
Carroll County25/100
Jackson County24/100
Marion County23/100
Scott County23/100
Phillips County19/100
Miller County18/100
Pulaski County18/100
Drew County16/100
Madison County16/100
Arkansas County14/100
Lee County11/100
St. Francis County11/100
Clark County10/100
Jefferson County8/100

— = data pending from NCES pipeline.

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Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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