Bay School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Bay, Arkansas - 2 schools

An equity score of 41/100 ranks Bay School District #173 of 250 districts in Arkansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,726 per pupil, Bay School District ranks #164 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending (Arkansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

562
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$11,726
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Bay School District operates 2 public schools serving 562 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Craighead County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,726 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Arkansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 28.9% local, 56.0% state, and 15.1% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 41/100, ranked #173 of 250 in Arkansas against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (4 AP courses district-wide), a 275:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 26.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 92.5% White, 4.6% African American, 1.9% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Bay Elementary School, enrolling 317 students (58% of the district's total enrollment).

Bay Elementary School accounts for 56.4% of all Bay School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Bay School District a distant remainder — means Bay School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: elementary. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Bay School District student-counselor ratio is 275:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Bay School District is typically wider than the Bay School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Bay School District chronic absenteeism rate is 26.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Bay School District is typically wider than the Bay School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.1%
Federal
56.0%
State
28.9%
Local

Funding Equity

41
Equity Score
173 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Bay School District.

White 92.5%
Hispanic or Latino 1.9%
African American 4.6%
Multiracial 1.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
4 AP courses total
275:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
26.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Bay School District

School Enrollment
Bay Elementary School
317
Bay High School
233

How Bay School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arkansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
County Line School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mt. Vernon/Enola School Dist. Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Hazen School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Ozark Mountain School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Woodlawn School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Bay School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Arkansas

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Springdale School District
22,745 students · 29 schools · $12,146/pupil
Compare vs Bay School District →
Little Rock School District
21,456 students · 40 schools · $15,959/pupil
Compare vs Bay School District →
Bentonville School District
18,674 students · 24 schools · $12,377/pupil
Compare vs Bay School District →
Rogers School District
15,964 students · 23 schools · $11,519/pupil
Compare vs Bay School District →
Fort Smith School District
14,291 students · 27 schools · $12,459/pupil
Compare vs Bay School District →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Bay School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Springdale School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Bay School District?

Bay School District has 2 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 562 students.

How much does Bay School District spend per student?

Bay School District spends $11,726 per student. The district has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #173 in Arkansas.

What is the demographic composition of Bay School District?

Bay School District students are 92.5% White, 4.6% African American, 1.9% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Bay School District?

Bay School District has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #173 out of 250 districts in Arkansas.