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

No. Use the Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County?

Start with the 11 listed public schools and 4 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Polk County Schools & Education

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

Polk County, Arkansas

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

School Score

35/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

91.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,801

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,160

School Score

35/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 38/100

State Score Position

#44

of 75 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Polk County

Measured School Summary

Despite a lower school score of 35/100, Polk County maintains a strong graduation rate of 91.2%, suggesting effective student support systems.

Funding Context

At $5,801 per pupil, Polk County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 8% below the Arkansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Polk 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

11 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

35/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #44 of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data.

Completion

91.2%

0.9 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,801

$359 below the state average

School coverage

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

Polk County has 11 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Polk 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

Polk 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

#44

of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,745 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

769 students

Elementary 2Middle 0High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

635 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

UA RICH MOUNTAIN TECHNICAL CENTER

High school only in this slice

0 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT 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 Polk County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Polk 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 Polk 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 Small-Scale Education Network in Polk County

Polk County manages a focused education system of 11 public schools across four districts, serving 3,149 students. The infrastructure is evenly balanced with five elementary schools, five high schools, and one middle school.

Mena School District Leads the Region

The Mena School District is the county's largest, overseeing five schools and 1,745 students. The county also features one charter school, which represents roughly 9% of its total educational facilities.

Rural Roots and Intimate Learning Environments

Education here is deeply rural, with nine schools in rural settings and two in town locales. The average school size is just 315 students, ranging from the 498-student Mena High School down to smaller community campuses.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Polk County

Reported Enrollment

3,149

11 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

9% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5

Middle1

High5

Other0

4 School Districts in Polk County

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

1,745 students

COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

4 schools

861 students

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

799 students

UA RICH MOUNTAIN TECHNICAL CENTER

1 school

0 students

11 Public Schools in Polk 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

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 11 of 11 matching schools

Public schools in Polk County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
MENA HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENA, 71953Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	498
HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEM. SCHOOL	Record	MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENA, 71953Rural: Fringe	3–5	Primary	435
LOUISE DURHAM ELEM. SCHOOL	Record	MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENA, 71953Town: Remote	PK–2	Primary	429
MENA MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENA, 71953Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	375
COSSATOT RIVER HIGH SCHOOL	Record	COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT	COVE, 71937Rural: Remote	7–12	High	374
ACORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENA, 71953Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	342
ACORN HIGH SCHOOL	Record	OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENA, 71953Rural: Distant	7–12	High	293
WICKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT	WICKES, 71973Rural: Remote	3–6	Primary	242
COSSATOT RIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL	Record	COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT	VANDERVOORT, 71972Rural: Remote	KG–2	Primary	153
POLK COUNTY VIRTUAL ACADEMY	Record	MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT	MENA, 71953Rural: Fringe	8–12	CharterVirtual	8
UA RICH MOUNTAIN TECHNICAL CENTER	Record	UA RICH MOUNTAIN TECHNICAL CENTER	Mena, 71953Town: Remote	9–12	Vocational	0

MENA HIGH SCHOOL

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENA, 71953 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High498 students

HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEM. SCHOOL

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENA, 71953 / Rural: Fringe

Record3–5Primary435 students

LOUISE DURHAM ELEM. SCHOOL

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENA, 71953 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–2Primary429 students

MENA MIDDLE SCHOOL

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENA, 71953 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle375 students

COSSATOT RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

COVE, 71937 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High374 students

ACORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENA, 71953 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary342 students

ACORN HIGH SCHOOL

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENA, 71953 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High293 students

WICKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

WICKES, 71973 / Rural: Remote

Record3–6Primary242 students

COSSATOT RIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL

COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

VANDERVOORT, 71972 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–2Primary153 students

POLK COUNTY VIRTUAL ACADEMY

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENA, 71953 / Rural: Fringe

Record8–12CharterVirtual8 students

UA RICH MOUNTAIN TECHNICAL CENTER

Mena, 71953 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Vocational0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,801

State avg $6,160

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Polk 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 Polk County?

Polk County has a school score of 35/100, 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 Polk County?

The high school graduation rate in Polk County is 91.2%, 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 Polk County spend per student?

Polk County spends $5,801 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 Polk County, Arkansas — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Polk County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Faulkner County

Arkansas

+0 pts

35/100

School score

Logan County

Arkansas

+0 pts

35/100

School score

Lincoln County

Arkansas

+1 pts

36/100

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.

Explore more data for Polk County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score