schoolsbycounty

Cleveland County Schools & Education

School Score

50/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

96.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

96.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,648

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,160

School Score

50/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 38/100

State Score Position

#19

of 75 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Cleveland County

Measured School Summary

Cleveland County performs at an average level with a school score of 50/100 and a solid graduation rate of 96.1%.

Funding Context

At $5,648 per pupil, Cleveland County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 32% above the Arkansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Cleveland County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

4 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

50/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #19 of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data.

Completion

96.1%

5.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,648

$512 below the state average

School coverage

4

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Cleveland County has 4 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Cleveland County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Small-system county

Cleveland County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.

State position

#19

of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data. The county score is 12 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

CLEVELAND COUNTY SCHOOL DIST.

Elementary and high visible

739 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

WOODLAWN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

573 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

CLEVELAND COUNTY SCHOOL DIST. is the largest listed district slice, with 2 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cleveland County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cleveland County district systems?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Cleveland County, Arkansas

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Efficient and Effective Rural Education

Cleveland County operates four public schools split between two districts, serving a total of 1,312 students. The streamlined system consists of two elementary and two high schools, focusing on core primary and secondary education.

Rison and Woodlawn Districts

The Cleveland County School District in Rison serves 739 students, while the Woodlawn School District supports 573 students. There are no charter schools in the county, ensuring all 1,312 students attend traditional public institutions.

Quiet Campuses in Completely Rural Locales

Every school in Cleveland County is classified as rural, providing a consistent and quiet learning environment for all students. Rison Elementary is the county's largest school with 377 students, while Woodlawn High School is the smallest with 274.

School Overview

Total Schools

4

in Cleveland County

Reported Enrollment

1,312

4 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle0
High2
Other0

2 School Districts in Cleveland County

CLEVELAND COUNTY SCHOOL DIST.

2 schools
739 students

WOODLAWN SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools
573 students

4 Public Schools in Cleveland County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 4 of 4 matching schools

RISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CLEVELAND COUNTY SCHOOL DIST.

RISON, 71665 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary377 students

RISON HIGH SCHOOL

CLEVELAND COUNTY SCHOOL DIST.

RISON, 71665 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High362 students

WOODLAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WOODLAWN SCHOOL DISTRICT

RISON, 71665 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary299 students

WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL

WOODLAWN SCHOOL DISTRICT

RISON, 71665 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High274 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,648

State avg $6,160

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Cleveland County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Arkansas counties have the highest graduation rates?
Newton County (96.3%), Cleveland County (96.1%), and Conway County (95.8%) currently lead Arkansas among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Arkansas?
Across Arkansas counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,160. The highest current county values are Dallas County ($9,545), Stone County ($7,285), and Woodruff County ($7,079). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Cleveland County?
Cleveland County has a school score of 50/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Cleveland County?
The high school graduation rate in Cleveland County is 96.1%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Cleveland County spend per student?
Cleveland County spends $5,648 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Cleveland County, Arkansas — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Cleveland County, Arkansas?

Cleveland County operates four public schools split between two districts, serving a total of 1,312 students. The streamlined system consists of two elementary and two high schools, focusing on core primary and secondary education.

What are the major school districts in Cleveland County, Arkansas?

The Cleveland County School District in Rison serves 739 students, while the Woodlawn School District supports 573 students. There are no charter schools in the county, ensuring all 1,312 students attend traditional public institutions.

What is the school experience like in Cleveland County?

Every school in Cleveland County is classified as rural, providing a consistent and quiet learning environment for all students. Rison Elementary is the county's largest school with 377 students, while Woodlawn High School is the smallest with 274.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

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