Can I use Jefferson County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Jefferson County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Jefferson County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Jefferson County?

Start with the 25 listed public schools and 5 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Jefferson County Schools & Education

Name: Jefferson County, Arkansas Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Jefferson County, Arkansas

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

School Score

8/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

80.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

80.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,539

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,160

School Score

8/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 38/100

State Score Position

#75

of 75 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Jefferson County

Measured School Summary

Jefferson County faces educational challenges with a school score of 8/100 and a graduation rate of 80.5%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $5,539 per pupil, Jefferson County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 78% below the Arkansas average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 9.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Jefferson 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

25 public schools and 5 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

8/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #75 of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data.

Completion

80.5%

9.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$5,539

$621 below the state average

School coverage

5 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Jefferson County has 25 public schools across 5 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Jefferson 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.

Review-carefully county

Jefferson County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#75

of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data. The county score is 30 points below 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.

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

3,261 students

Elementary 4Middle 2High 2Other 1

9 listed schools in this county slice.

WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

3,028 students

Elementary 4Middle 1High 1Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,796 students

Elementary 2Middle 2High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY PINE BLUFF

Elementary school only in this slice

530 students

Elementary 2Middle 0High 0Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 9 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 Jefferson County?

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

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

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

Education Overview

About Schools in Jefferson 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.

A Diverse and Dynamic School System

Jefferson County manages an extensive network of 25 public schools serving 8,823 students. Five districts oversee these facilities, which include 13 elementary schools and 6 middle schools that provide a foundational education for the region.

Pine Bluff and White Hall Leadership

The Pine Bluff School District is the county's largest, operating 9 schools for 3,261 students. White Hall School District follows closely with 3,028 students, and notably, 16% of the county's schools are public charters, offering families specialized choice.

Urban Centers and Suburban Campuses

The county features 17 schools in city settings, 5 in rural areas, and 3 in suburban neighborhoods. Schools range in size from large facilities like White Hall High, with 969 students, to smaller community-based primary centers.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Jefferson County

Reported Enrollment

8,823

25 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

16% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary13

Middle6

High5

Other1

5 School Districts in Jefferson County

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

9 schools

3,261 students

WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

6 schools

3,028 students

WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

1,796 students

FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY PINE BLUFF

2 schools

530 students

JEFFERSON AREA CAREER CENTER

1 school

0 students

25 Public Schools in Jefferson County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 25 matching schools

Public schools in Jefferson County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
WHITE HALL HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WHITE HALL, 71602Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	969
WHITE HALL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WHITE HALL, 71602Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	703
JACK ROBEY JR. HIGH SCHOOL	Record	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71603City: Small	7–9	Middle	594
PINE BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL	Record	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71601City: Small	10–12	High	583
WATSON CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL	Record	WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71603Rural: Fringe	10–12	High	497
WATSON CHAPEL JR. HIGH SCHOOL	Record	WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71603Rural: Fringe	7–9	Middle	463
MATTHEWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71602City: Small	KG–6	Primary	436
THIRTY-FOURTH AVE. ELEM. SCH.	Record	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71601City: Small	KG–6	Primary	396
SOUTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINEBLUFF, 71603City: Small	KG–6	Primary	394
TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WHITE HALL, 71602Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	387
COLEMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71603City: Small	4–6	Middle	384
FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY	Record	FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY PINE BLUFF	PINE BLUFF, 71603City: Small	KG–4	Charter	373
MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WHITE HALL, 71602Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	369
GANDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WHITE HALL, 71602Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	348
BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71601City: Small	KG–6	Primary	292
HARDIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT	REDFIELD, 72132Rural: Distant	KG–5	Primary	252
L. L. OWEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71603City: Small	2–3	Primary	238
EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71603City: Small	KG–1	Primary	214
FORREST PARK PREP PRESCHOOL	Record	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71603City: Small	PK	Other	208
ROBERT F MOREHEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE BLUFF, 71602City: Small	7–9	Middle	195

WHITE HALL HIGH SCHOOL

WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WHITE HALL, 71602 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High969 students

WHITE HALL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WHITE HALL, 71602 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle703 students

JACK ROBEY JR. HIGH SCHOOL

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71603 / City: Small

Record7–9Middle594 students

PINE BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71601 / City: Small

Record10–12High583 students

WATSON CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL

WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71603 / Rural: Fringe

Record10–12High497 students

WATSON CHAPEL JR. HIGH SCHOOL

WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71603 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–9Middle463 students

MATTHEWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71602 / City: Small

RecordKG–6Primary436 students

THIRTY-FOURTH AVE. ELEM. SCH.

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71601 / City: Small

RecordKG–6Primary396 students

SOUTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINEBLUFF, 71603 / City: Small

RecordKG–6Primary394 students

TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WHITE HALL, 71602 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary387 students

COLEMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71603 / City: Small

Record4–6Middle384 students

FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY

FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY PINE BLUFF

PINE BLUFF, 71603 / City: Small

RecordKG–4Charter373 students

MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WHITE HALL, 71602 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary369 students

GANDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WHITE HALL, 71602 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary348 students

BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71601 / City: Small

RecordKG–6Primary292 students

HARDIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

REDFIELD, 72132 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary252 students

L. L. OWEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71603 / City: Small

Record2–3Primary238 students

EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WATSON CHAPEL SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71603 / City: Small

RecordKG–1Primary214 students

FORREST PARK PREP PRESCHOOL

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71603 / City: Small

RecordPKOther208 students

ROBERT F MOREHEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL

PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

PINE BLUFF, 71602 / City: Small

Record7–9Middle195 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,539

State avg $6,160

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

Jefferson County has a school score of 8/100, which is a lower 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 Jefferson County?

The high school graduation rate in Jefferson County is 80.5%, which is below 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 Jefferson County spend per student?

Jefferson County spends $5,539 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 Jefferson County, Arkansas — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Jefferson County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Clark County

Arkansas

+2 pts

10/100

School score

St. Francis County

Arkansas

+2 pts

11/100

School score

Lee County

Arkansas

+3 pts

11/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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.

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