Desha County Schools & Education
Desha County, Arkansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
52/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,672
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,160
School Score
52/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#15
of 75 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Desha County
Measured School Summary
Desha County performs at an average level with a school score of 52/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.8%.
Funding Context
At $6,672 per pupil, Desha County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 36% above the Arkansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Desha 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
7 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
52/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #15 of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data.
Completion
92.8%
2.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,672
$512 above the state average
School coverage
7
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
Desha County has 7 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.
What Desha 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
Desha 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
#15
of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data. The county score is 14 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.
MCGEHEE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary to high school visible
1,098 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary to high school visible
1,001 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Desha County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Desha County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
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 Desha 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 School Systems in Desha County
Desha County supports 2,099 students through seven public schools across two districts. The educational network includes three elementary, two middle, and two high schools distributed throughout the county.
Strong Graduation Performance Above Averages
A graduation rate of 92.8% places Desha County schools above the state average of 90.3% and the national average of 87.0%. The county invests $6,672 per pupil, which is notably higher than the state median expenditure.
McGehee and Dumas Drive Enrollment
The McGehee School District is the largest in the county with 1,098 students, followed closely by the Dumas School District with 1,001 students. No charter schools currently operate in the county, ensuring a focus on traditional public school districts.
A Town-Centric Learning Environment
Five of the county's schools are located in town settings, providing an average school size of 300 students. McGehee Elementary is the largest campus with 530 students, while high schoolers typically attend smaller environments like the 314-student Dumas High.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Desha County
Reported Enrollment
2,099
7 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Desha County
MCGEHEE SCHOOL DISTRICT
DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT
7 Public Schools in Desha 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 dataLevel
Showing 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCGEHEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | MCGEHEE SCHOOL DISTRICT | MCGEHEE, 71654Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 530 |
| MCGEHEE HIGH SCHOOL | Record | MCGEHEE SCHOOL DISTRICT | MCGEHEE, 71654Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 320 |
| DUMAS HIGH SCHOOL | Record | DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUMAS, 71639Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 314 |
| CONNER MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | MCGEHEE SCHOOL DISTRICT | McGehee, 71654Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 248 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUMAS, 71639Town: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 238 |
| DUMAS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Record | DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUMAS, 71639Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 236 |
| REED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUMAS, 71639Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 213 |
MCGEHEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MCGEHEE SCHOOL DISTRICT
MCGEHEE, 71654 / Town: Remote
CONNER MIDDLE SCHOOL
MCGEHEE SCHOOL DISTRICT
McGehee, 71654 / Rural: Fringe
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT
DUMAS, 71639 / Town: Distant
DUMAS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
DUMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT
DUMAS, 71639 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,672
State avg $6,160
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Desha County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Arkansas counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Arkansas?
How should I read the school score in Desha County?
What is the graduation rate in Desha County?
How much does Desha County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Desha County, Arkansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Desha County, Arkansas?
Desha County supports 2,099 students through seven public schools across two districts. The educational network includes three elementary, two middle, and two high schools distributed throughout the county.
How do schools in Desha County perform academically?
A graduation rate of 92.8% places Desha County schools above the state average of 90.3% and the national average of 87.0%. The county invests $6,672 per pupil, which is notably higher than the state median expenditure.
What are the major school districts in Desha County, Arkansas?
The McGehee School District is the largest in the county with 1,098 students, followed closely by the Dumas School District with 1,001 students. No charter schools currently operate in the county, ensuring a focus on traditional public school districts.
What is the school experience like in Desha County?
Five of the county's schools are located in town settings, providing an average school size of 300 students. McGehee Elementary is the largest campus with 530 students, while high schoolers typically attend smaller environments like the 314-student Dumas High.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.