LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — 39 schools

21,456
Total Enrollment
39
Schools
$15,987
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT operates 39 public schools serving 21,456 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 18 elementary, 11 other, 6 middle, 4 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 21,115 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Pulaski County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,987 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 52.7% local, 26.7% state, and 20.7% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $76,545 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 41/100, ranked #162 of 250 in Arkansas against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 39 schools offering Advanced Placement (71 AP courses district-wide), a 379.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 45.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 61.7% African American, 17.9% White, 14.5% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment varies 12× across entities

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment ranges from 195 students (lowest) to 2,371 students (highest), a spread of 2,176 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 62.3% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT student-counselor ratio is 380:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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

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

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT chronic absenteeism rate is 45.2% — 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?

20.7%
Federal
26.7%
State
52.7%
Local

Funding Equity

41
Equity Score
162 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Pulaski County county, where this district is located.

$984
Studio/mo
$989
1 BR/mo
$1,147
2 BR/mo
$1,540
3 BR/mo
$1,822
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$76,545
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 39 schools in LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT.

White 17.9%
Hispanic or Latino 14.5%
African American 61.7%
Asian 2.4%
Multiracial 3.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

5 / 39
Schools with AP
71 AP courses total
379.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
45.2%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Enrollment
Central High School
2,371
Little Rock Southwest High School
2,045
Parkview Magnet High School
1,072
Don Roberts Elementary School
1,035
Chicot Elementary School
897
Pinnacle View Middle School
807
J.a. Fair K8 Preparatory School
779
Forest Heights Stem Academy
777
Cloverdale Middle School
665
Pulaski Heights Middle School
585
Mann Magnet Middle School
557
Little Rock West High School of Innovation
495
Wakefield Elementary School
493
Fulbright Elementary School
485
Mabelvale Middle School
477
Stephens Elementary
474
M.L. King Elementary School
414
Watson Elementary School
383
Forest Park Elementary School
379
Otter Creek Elementary School
372
Mabelvale Elementary School
369
Jefferson Elementary School
359
Williams Magnet Elem. School
340
Little Rock Hall Steam Magnet High School
335
Bale Elementary School
330
Terry Elementary School
328
Rockefeller Early Childhood Center
317
Dunbar Magnet Middle School
315
Washington Elementary School
315
Brady Elementary School
309
Gibbs Magnet Elementary School
291
Baseline Elementary School
281
Geyer Springs Early Childhood Center
273
Pulaski Heights Elem. School
266
Mcdermott Elementary School
254
Romine Early Childhood Center
242
Carver Steam Magnet Elementary School
232
Western Hills Elem. School
202
Fair Park Early Childhood Ctr
195

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 · $12,773/pupil
Compare vs LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT →
BENTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
18,674 students · 24 schools · $13,522/pupil
Compare vs LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT →
ROGERS SCHOOL DISTRICT
15,964 students · 23 schools · $12,254/pupil
Compare vs LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT →
FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT
14,291 students · 27 schools · $15,628/pupil
Compare vs LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT →
PULASKI CO. SPEC. SCHOOL DIST.
12,244 students · 26 schools · $16,702/pupil
Compare vs LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT →

Compare LITTLE ROCK 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 LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT has 39 schools, including 4 high, 11 other, 18 elementary, 6 middle. Total enrollment is 21,456 students.

How much does LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $15,987 per student. The district has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #162 in Arkansas.

What is the average teacher salary in LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The average teacher salary in LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT is $76,545 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Pulaski County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT students are 61.7% African American, 17.9% White, 14.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% Asian, averaged across 39 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT?

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #162 out of 250 districts in Arkansas. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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