Lawrence County 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.

Walnut Ridge, Arkansas - 2 schools

An equity score of 26/100 ranks Lawrence County School District #221 of 250 districts in Arkansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,980 per pupil, Lawrence County School District ranks #229 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending (Arkansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,042
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$9,980
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lawrence County School District operates 2 public schools serving 1,042 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 Lawrence County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,980 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 26 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Arkansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 34.5% local, 43.9% state, and 21.6% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 26/100, ranked #221 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 (7 AP courses district-wide), a 297.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 23.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.8% White, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Walnut Ridge Elementary School, enrolling 630 students (59% of the district's total enrollment).

Walnut Ridge Elementary School accounts for 59.0% of all Lawrence County School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Lawrence County School District a distant remainder — means Lawrence County 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

Lawrence County School District student-counselor ratio is 297:1 — 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 Lawrence County School District is typically wider than the Lawrence County School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Lawrence County School District chronic absenteeism rate is 23.3% — 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 Lawrence County School District is typically wider than the Lawrence County School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

21.6%
Federal
43.9%
State
34.5%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
221 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Lawrence County School District.

White 86.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.6%
African American 1.2%
Multiracial 5.2%
Other 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
7 AP courses total
297.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Lawrence County School District

School Enrollment
Walnut Ridge Elementary School
630
Walnut Ridge High School
437

How Lawrence County School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arkansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Mayflower School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Bismarck School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Helena/ W.Helena School Dist. Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Harrisburg School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Manila School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Lawrence County 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 Lawrence County School District?

Lawrence County School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 1,042 students.

How much does Lawrence County School District spend per student?

Lawrence County School District spends $9,980 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #221 in Arkansas.

What is the demographic composition of Lawrence County School District?

Lawrence County School District students are 86.8% White, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lawrence County School District?

Lawrence County School District has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #221 out of 250 districts in Arkansas.