Fordyce 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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Fordyce, Arkansas - 2 schools

An equity score of 76/100 ranks Fordyce School District #21 of 250 districts in Arkansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,868 per pupil, Fordyce School District ranks #19 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending (Arkansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

732
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$15,868
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Fordyce School District operates 2 public schools serving 732 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 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 Dallas County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,868 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 26 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Arkansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 18.6% local, 57.0% state, and 24.4% 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 76/100, ranked #21 of 250 in Arkansas against a state average of 50, notably more 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 (6 AP courses district-wide), a 329.5:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 33.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 54.5% African American, 38.1% White, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Fordyce Elementary Schools, enrolling 338 students (51% of the district's total enrollment).

Fordyce Elementary Schools accounts for 46.2% of all Fordyce School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Fordyce School District a distant remainder — means Fordyce School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Fordyce School District student-counselor ratio is 330:1 — 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 Fordyce School District is typically wider than the Fordyce School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Fordyce School District chronic absenteeism rate is 33.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

24.4%
Federal
57.0%
State
18.6%
Local

Funding Equity

76
Equity Score
21 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Fordyce School District.

White 38.1%
Hispanic or Latino 3.6%
African American 54.5%
Multiracial 3.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
329.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Fordyce School District

School Enrollment
Fordyce Elementary Schools
338
Fordyce High School
321

How Fordyce School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arkansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Buffalo is. Central Sch. Dist. Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Cotter School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Cleveland County School Dist. Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Magnet Cove School Dist. Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Cedarville School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Fordyce 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 · $11,376/pupil
Compare vs Fordyce School District →
Little Rock School District
21,456 students · 40 schools · $14,597/pupil
Compare vs Fordyce School District →
Bentonville School District
18,674 students · 24 schools · $11,698/pupil
Compare vs Fordyce School District →
Rogers School District
15,964 students · 23 schools · $10,977/pupil
Compare vs Fordyce School District →
Fort Smith School District
14,291 students · 27 schools · $12,206/pupil
Compare vs Fordyce School District →

Compare Fordyce 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 Fordyce School District?

Fordyce School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 732 students.

How much does Fordyce School District spend per student?

Fordyce School District spends $15,868 per student. The district has an equity score of 76/100, ranking #21 in Arkansas.

What is the demographic composition of Fordyce School District?

Fordyce School District students are 54.5% African American, 38.1% White, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Fordyce School District?

Fordyce School District has an equity score of 76/100, ranking #21 out of 250 districts in Arkansas.