Prairie County Schools & Education
Prairie County, Arkansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
95.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,193
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,160
School Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#10
of 75 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Prairie County
Measured School Summary
Prairie County performs at an average level with a school score of 53/100 and a solid graduation rate of 95.0%.
Funding Context
At $6,193 per pupil, Prairie County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 39% above the Arkansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Prairie 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
4 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
53/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #10 of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data.
Completion
95.0%
4.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,193
roughly matches the state average
School coverage
4
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
Prairie County has 4 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 Prairie 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
Prairie 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
#10
of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data. The county score is 15 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.
DES ARC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary and high visible
636 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
HAZEN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary and high visible
556 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
DES ARC SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 2 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 Prairie County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Prairie County district systems?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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 Prairie 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.
Small Districts, Big Results in Prairie County
Prairie County operates a streamlined education system with just four public schools serving 1,192 students. The county is divided into two main districts, each managing one elementary and one high school.
Des Arc and Hazen Lead the Way
The Des Arc School District is the larger of the two, educating 636 students across its two campuses. The Hazen School District follows closely with 556 students, and notably, there are no charter schools within the county.
A Purely Rural School Experience
Every school in Prairie County is classified as rural, offering a consistent and intimate learning environment. With an average size of 298 students, even the largest campus, Des Arc Elementary, hosts only 382 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Prairie County
Reported Enrollment
1,192
4 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Prairie County
DES ARC SCHOOL DISTRICT
HAZEN SCHOOL DISTRICT
4 Public Schools in Prairie 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 4 of 4 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DES ARC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | DES ARC SCHOOL DISTRICT | DES ARC, 72040Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 382 |
| HAZEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | HAZEN SCHOOL DISTRICT | HAZEN, 72064Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 285 |
| HAZEN HIGH SCHOOL | Record | HAZEN SCHOOL DISTRICT | HAZEN, 72064Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 271 |
| DES ARC HIGH SCHOOL | Record | DES ARC SCHOOL DISTRICT | DES ARC, 72040Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 254 |
DES ARC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DES ARC SCHOOL DISTRICT
DES ARC, 72040 / Rural: Distant
HAZEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HAZEN SCHOOL DISTRICT
HAZEN, 72064 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,193
State avg $6,160
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Prairie 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 Prairie County?
What is the graduation rate in Prairie County?
How much does Prairie County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Prairie County, Arkansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Prairie County, Arkansas?
Prairie County operates a streamlined education system with just four public schools serving 1,192 students. The county is divided into two main districts, each managing one elementary and one high school.
What are the major school districts in Prairie County, Arkansas?
The Des Arc School District is the larger of the two, educating 636 students across its two campuses. The Hazen School District follows closely with 556 students, and notably, there are no charter schools within the county.
What is the school experience like in Prairie County?
Every school in Prairie County is classified as rural, offering a consistent and intimate learning environment. With an average size of 298 students, even the largest campus, Des Arc Elementary, hosts only 382 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.