Phillips County Schools & Education
Phillips County, Arkansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
19/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
84.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,046
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,160
School Score
19/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#66
of 75 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Phillips County
Measured School Summary
Phillips County faces educational challenges with a school score of 19/100 and a graduation rate of 84.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,046 per pupil, Phillips County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 49% below the Arkansas average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 5.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Phillips 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
9 public schools and 4 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
19/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #66 of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data.
Completion
84.7%
5.6 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,046
$114 below the state average
School coverage
9
4 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
Phillips County has 9 public schools across 4 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 Phillips 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.
Choice-program county
Phillips County has a visible charter, magnet, or virtual-school layer in NCES records. The practical question is eligibility, lottery timing, and transportation, not just whether a school appears nearby.
State position
#66
of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data. The county score is 19 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.
HELENA/ W.HELENA SCHOOL DIST.
Elementary and high visible
1,012 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
832 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
BARTON-LEXA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary and high visible
674 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
MARVELL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary and high visible
331 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Phillips County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Phillips 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 Phillips 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 Evolving School Landscape
Phillips County manages nine public schools across four districts, educating a total of 2,849 students. The system includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and four high schools, reflecting a comprehensive educational reach. This variety provides families with several different pathways for their children's development.
A Hub for Charter and Public Options
Charter schools play a major role here, with KIPP Delta Public Schools operating five campuses and representing 33.3% of the county's schools. KIPP Delta serves 1,224 students, while the Helena/W. Helena School District supports 1,012 students. This mix of charter and traditional schools offers parents significant choice in their children's education.
A Blend of Town Centers and Rural Roots
Education in Phillips County is split between five rural schools and four town-based campuses, providing different community atmospheres. The average school size is 317 students, with J.F. Wahl Elementary being the largest at 519 students. Barton High School represents the more intimate end of the spectrum with 323 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
9
in Phillips County
Reported Enrollment
2,849
9 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
3
33% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Phillips County
KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HELENA/ W.HELENA SCHOOL DIST.
BARTON-LEXA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MARVELL SCHOOL DISTRICT
9 Public Schools in Phillips 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 9 of 9 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.F. WAHL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | HELENA/ W.HELENA SCHOOL DIST. | HELENA, 72342Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 519 |
| CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | Record | HELENA/ W.HELENA SCHOOL DIST. | WEST HELENA, 72390Town: Remote | 7–12 | High | 493 |
| KIPP DELTA ELEMENTARY LITERACY ACADEMY | Record | KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HELENA, 72342Town: Remote | PK–5 | Charter | 451 |
| BARTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | BARTON-LEXA SCHOOL DISTRICT | BARTON, 72312Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 351 |
| BARTON HIGH SCHOOL | Record | BARTON-LEXA SCHOOL DISTRICT | BARTON, 72312Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 323 |
| MARVELL PRIMARY SCHOOL | Record | MARVELL SCHOOL DISTRICT | MARVELL, 72366Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 204 |
| KIPP DELTA COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL | Record | KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HELENA, 72342Town: Remote | 9–12 | Charter | 199 |
| KIPP DELTA COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL | Record | KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HELENA, 72342Town: Remote | 6–8 | Charter | 182 |
| MARVELL HIGH SCHOOL | Record | MARVELL SCHOOL DISTRICT | MARVELL, 72366Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 127 |
J.F. WAHL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HELENA/ W.HELENA SCHOOL DIST.
HELENA, 72342 / Rural: Fringe
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
HELENA/ W.HELENA SCHOOL DIST.
WEST HELENA, 72390 / Town: Remote
KIPP DELTA ELEMENTARY LITERACY ACADEMY
KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HELENA, 72342 / Town: Remote
BARTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BARTON-LEXA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BARTON, 72312 / Rural: Distant
BARTON HIGH SCHOOL
BARTON-LEXA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BARTON, 72312 / Rural: Distant
MARVELL PRIMARY SCHOOL
MARVELL SCHOOL DISTRICT
MARVELL, 72366 / Rural: Remote
KIPP DELTA COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL
KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HELENA, 72342 / Town: Remote
KIPP DELTA COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
KIPP DELTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HELENA, 72342 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,046
State avg $6,160
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Phillips 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 Phillips County?
What is the graduation rate in Phillips County?
How much does Phillips County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Phillips County, Arkansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Phillips County, Arkansas?
Phillips County manages nine public schools across four districts, educating a total of 2,849 students. The system includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and four high schools, reflecting a comprehensive educational reach. This variety provides families with several different pathways for their children's development.
What are the major school districts in Phillips County, Arkansas?
Charter schools play a major role here, with KIPP Delta Public Schools operating five campuses and representing 33.3% of the county's schools. KIPP Delta serves 1,224 students, while the Helena/W. Helena School District supports 1,012 students. This mix of charter and traditional schools offers parents significant choice in their children's education.
What is the school experience like in Phillips County?
Education in Phillips County is split between five rural schools and four town-based campuses, providing different community atmospheres. The average school size is 317 students, with J.F. Wahl Elementary being the largest at 519 students. Barton High School represents the more intimate end of the spectrum with 323 students.
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.