State district guide

Arkansas public school districts

Compare district systems across Arkansas by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

View county rankings Find a school

Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in Arkansas, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

SPRINGDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT

22,745 reported students

Check county context

Dallas County

85/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in Arkansas

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

283 districts in state file

Arkansas public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	SPRINGDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0512660 Washington County29 schools	Washington County 30/100 county score	22,745	29	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
2	LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0509000 Pulaski County40 schools	Pulaski County 18/100 county score	21,456	40	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
3	BENTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0503060 Benton County24 schools	Benton County 30/100 county score	18,674	24	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
4	ROGERS SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0511970 Benton County23 schools	Benton County 30/100 county score	15,964	23	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
5	FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0506330 Sebastian County27 schools	Sebastian County 40/100 county score	14,291	27	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
6	PULASKI CO. SPEC. SCHOOL DIST. LEA ID 0511850 Pulaski County26 schools	Pulaski County 18/100 county score	12,244	26	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
7	CABOT SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0503750 Lonoke County16 schools	Lonoke County 34/100 county score	10,696	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
8	FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0506120 Washington County16 schools	Washington County 30/100 county score	10,560	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
9	CONWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0504590 Faulkner County16 schools	Faulkner County 35/100 county score	10,251	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
10	BRYANT SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0503690 Saline County12 schools	Saline County 41/100 county score	9,766	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
11	N. LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0510680 Pulaski County14 schools	Pulaski County 18/100 county score	8,200	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
12	JONESBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0508280 Craighead County11 schools	Craighead County 41/100 county score	6,709	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
13	VAN BUREN SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0513410 Crawford County11 schools	Crawford County 37/100 county score	5,911	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
14	BENTON SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0502960 Saline County7 schools	Saline County 41/100 county score	5,904	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
15	RUSSELLVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0512060 Pope County10 schools	Pope County 48/100 county score	5,602	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
16	WEST MEMPHIS SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0508040 Crittenden County10 schools	Crittenden County 28/100 county score	4,954	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
17	SILOAM SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0512450 Benton County6 schools	Benton County 30/100 county score	4,612	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
18	JACKSONVILLE NORTH PULASKI SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0500419 Pulaski County7 schools	Pulaski County 18/100 county score	4,517	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
19	SHERIDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0500015 Grant County7 schools	Grant County 29/100 county score	4,325	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
20	LAKE HAMILTON SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0508610 Garland County6 schools	Garland County 30/100 county score	4,131	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
21	EL DORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0505680 Union County6 schools	Union County 33/100 county score	4,051	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
22	SEARCY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0512210 White County6 schools	White County 29/100 county score	4,003	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
23	GREENWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0506990 Sebastian County6 schools	Sebastian County 40/100 county score	3,956	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
24	MOUNTAIN HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0500043 Baxter County6 schools	Baxter County 33/100 county score	3,914	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
25	MARION SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0509390 Crittenden County5 schools	Crittenden County 28/100 county score	3,902	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
26	TEXARKANA SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0513110 Miller County8 schools	Miller County 18/100 county score	3,888	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
27	GREENBRIER SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0506900 Faulkner County7 schools	Faulkner County 35/100 county score	3,862	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
28	LISA ACADEMY CHARTER LEA ID 0500074 Pulaski County10 schools	Pulaski County 18/100 county score	3,769	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records 10 charter Open district guide
29	ARKANSAS VIRTUAL ACADEMY LEA ID 0500394 Pulaski County3 schools	Pulaski County 18/100 county score	3,733	3	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 charter, 3 virtual Open district guide
30	HOT SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0507890 Garland County6 schools	Garland County 30/100 county score	3,690	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
31	GREENE CO. TECH SCHOOL DIST. LEA ID 0513080 Greene County6 schools	Greene County 33/100 county score	3,652	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
32	NETTLETON SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0510440 Craighead County7 schools	Craighead County 41/100 county score	3,633	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
33	BATESVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0500019 Independence County5 schools	Independence County 33/100 county score	3,469	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
34	LAKESIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0508670 Garland County5 schools	Garland County 30/100 county score	3,466	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
35	BEEBE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0502880 White County5 schools	White County 29/100 county score	3,394	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
36	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0500026 Jefferson County9 schools	Jefferson County 8/100 county score	3,261	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
37	ARKANSAS CONNECTIONS ACADEMY LEA ID 0500417 Benton County1 school	Benton County 30/100 county score	3,231	1	Limited grade-level records 1 charter, 1 virtual Detailed guide not generated yet
38	PARAGOULD SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0500017 Greene County7 schools	Greene County 33/100 county score	3,217	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
39	ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0502250 Crawford County4 schools	Crawford County 37/100 county score	3,143	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
40	BROOKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0503640 Craighead County4 schools	Craighead County 41/100 county score	3,060	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
41	VILONIA SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0513530 Faulkner County6 schools	Faulkner County 35/100 county score	3,053	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
42	WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0514140 Jefferson County6 schools	Jefferson County 8/100 county score	3,028	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
43	VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0513380 Craighead County4 schools	Craighead County 41/100 county score	2,994	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
44	ESTEM HIGH CHARTER LEA ID 0500398 Pulaski County5 schools	Pulaski County 18/100 county score	2,890	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records 5 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
45	HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0507380 Boone County5 schools	Boone County 47/100 county score	2,774	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
46	FARMINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0506090 Washington County5 schools	Washington County 30/100 county score	2,685	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
47	MAGNOLIA SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0500044 Columbia County5 schools	Columbia County 51/100 county score	2,662	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
48	CLARKSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0504380 Johnson County6 schools	Johnson County 49/100 county score	2,525	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
49	PEA RIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0503030 Benton County5 schools	Benton County 30/100 county score	2,494	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
50	WYNNE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0514430 Cross County4 schools	Cross County 44/100 county score	2,484	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
51	SO. CONWAY CO. SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0512520 Conway County5 schools	Conway County 51/100 county score	2,459	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
52	HUNTSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0508130 Madison County6 schools	Madison County 16/100 county score	2,339	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
53	DEQUEEN SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0500049 Sevier County5 schools	Sevier County 26/100 county score	2,320	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
54	HOPE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0507840 Hempstead County6 schools	Hempstead County 28/100 county score	2,263	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
55	SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0512540 Independence County4 schools	Independence County 33/100 county score	2,234	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
56	CAMDEN FAIRVIEW SCHOOL DIST. LEA ID 0506060 Ouachita County5 schools	Ouachita County 43/100 county score	2,222	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
57	PRAIRIE GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0511760 Washington County4 schools	Washington County 30/100 county score	2,207	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Detailed guide not generated yet
58	FORREST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0506270 St. Francis County5 schools	St. Francis County 11/100 county score	2,159	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
59	GRAVETTE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0506840 Benton County4 schools	Benton County 30/100 county score	2,076	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
60	DARDANELLE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 0504930 Yell County4 schools	Yell County 39/100 county score	2,064	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

County context

Districts anchored in higher-scoring county contexts

These rows pair district records with the county-level SchoolsByCounty score. Treat this as a shortlist for deeper research, not a district quality ranking.

FORDYCE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Dallas County

Students: 732
Schools: 2

NASHVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Howard County

Students: 1,931
Schools: 4

DIERKS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Howard County

Students: 523
Schools: 2

MINERAL SPRINGS SCHOOL DIST.

Howard County

Students: 375
Schools: 2

JASPER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Newton County

Students: 888
Schools: 6

DEER/MT. JUDEA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Newton County

Students: 356
Schools: 2

Parent checklist before relying on a district ranking

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arkansas School Districts

What are the best school districts in Arkansas?

SPRINGDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT, LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT, BENTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT are the largest Arkansas district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are Arkansas districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 35 Arkansas districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for Arkansas?

This page includes 283 Arkansas public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

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.

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